FGC2012 #7- Broken

This weeks challenge was to write a Tanka poem.

The Japanese tanka is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single unbroken line. A form of waka, Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as "short song," and is better known in its five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count form.

The ceiling her view

Broken heart her companion

Tears her company

No tears could explain the pain

Babies aren’t supposed to die.

After many re-writes finally the finished product. Hopefully it encases the emotion I was looking for.

FGC2012 #6 Life's a Drag

1. INT. EMPTY HALLWAY- MORNING

There is the distinct sound of someone throwing up being heard. A door halfway down the hall opens. JEDA MORTENSON, average appearance mid-twenties steps into the hallway wearing only an oversized T-shirt and boyleg briefs. Her hair is tousled and last nights eye make-up has spread around her eyes. She knocks gently on the door across the hall. She is responded to by another loud vomit.
                    
               JEDA
       Rueben? Are you OK.

               RUEBEN
       Yes.

Rueben continues to vomit.

                 JEDA
       Can I get you anything.

Jeda opens the door a crack to see RUEBEN MORTENSON, an attractive early twenties male curled on the floor with his head on the edge of the bathtub with one arm hanging in the tub.

                RUEBEN
        Can you get me a time machine so I can tell the
       me last night that though tequila shots was a good
       idea that it IS NOT!

                JEDA
      Yeah sure I’ll just pull one of those out my ass for ya.

Rueben swishes his arm around in the tub.

              JEDA (CONT’D)
        What are you doing?

              RUEBEN
       The chunks got stuck in the drain...

Jeda runs to the basin on the other side of the bathroom and empties the contents of her own stomach.

             JEDA
      You are an evil man.

ANAROSA MENDEZ, a plump short mid forties Spanish woman appears at the door.

            ANAROSA
     Not again senor Rueben and senorita Jeda.
     Why you do this? You leave me clean it up.

             RUEBEN
      (Clicks his fingers and laughs)
      Bitch please. We pay you to clean.

            JEDA
       (Jokingly)
      Rueben mind your bloody manners. Forgive him Anarosa.

               ANAROSA
       (Continuing the joke)
        I forgive him every Saturday and Sunday and he bitch
        please me again the next week. I no know why I work for you.

Anarosa storms out in a huff.

             RUEBEN
       That’s funny I don’t remember eating corn.

               JEDA
        Rueben your filth.

Jeda lifts her head from the basin and looks in the mirror. Her hair and make up are a mess and she now has vomit on her chin.

             JEDA (CONT’D)
        How am I still single Rueben.

                 RUEBEN
         Because you’re a ho.

Jeda laughs and throws a face washer at him. Anarosa re-enters with a handsome toned gentleman wearing only his boyleg briefs.

                    ANAROSA
        I find this wandering the hall. I no know who it belong to.

                      RUEBEN
         That’s mine.

Jeda looks the new member of the room up and down.

                     RUEBEN (CONT’D)
         This is Elliot. Elliot that’s Jeda and Anarosa.

Rueben squeezes some toothpaste on his finger and shoves it in his mouth before disappearing out the door with his gentleman. Jeda and Anarosa poke their heads out the door and perve on the visitor as Rueben leads him away.

                  ANAROSA
             If I were your age sweetheart I would climb that hunk of man and...

                        JEDA
              Anarosa stop it he’s gay.

                       ANAROSA
             No he no gay.

                       JEDA
             What do you think he spent the night in my brothers
             room doing? Playing boardgames?

                      ANAROSA
           Yes.

2. INT. LIVING ROOM- AFTERNOON

Jeda is flicking through a fashion magazine and Rueben comes up behind her.

                 RUEBEN
            Oh honey you would never pull that off.

He leans over and points to the photo. She grabs his hand and flips him over the couch.

                     JEDA
            Unlike you who would pull anything off.

                      RUEBEN
            You know it.

Anarosa enters the living room with a basket of laundry.

                          ANAROSA
            You two need keep clothes sperate. I no know who stuff is who.

She puts the basket down and holds up a dress looking questioningly at Jeda.

                          RUEBEN
            Nope that’s mine.

Anarosa holds up a football jersey looking at Rueben.

                             JEDA
                Nope that’s mine.

                            ANAROSA
               Dios Mio. You two drive me loco.

The two of them laugh.

                              RUEBEN
                 (Sweetly)
                Anarosa.

                           ANAROSA
                   Si Senor.

                          RUEBEN
                     What’s for dinner?

                          ANAROSA
                   Stick on a shit.

Rueben and Jeda crack up laughing.

3. INT. HALLWAY- NIGHT TIME

Starting from the floor the camera pans slowly up over a set of heels toned legs the bottom of a dress.

                             JEDA (O.S.)
                  Are you wearing that?

                           RUEBEN (O.S.)
                 Are you wearing that?

                            JEDA & RUEBEN
                     Yes... And?

Camera pans up to see Rueben is the one wearing the dress. The two of them laugh.

                              JEDA
                     Let’s go find me a man.

4. EXT. NIGHTCLUB- EVENING

Rueben and Elliot are holding hands and Jeda is further up the line. Three guys approach Rueben and Elliot.

                               GUY 1
                    Hey faggots.

                             RUEBEN
                    Bitch please their ain’t no faggots here.

Guy 1 pushes Rueben.

                             ELLIOT
                     Let’s just walk away.

Elliot is held back by Guy 2. Guy 3 punches Rueben in the face. Jeda notices what is going on and fights the crowd to get back to them. Guy 1 & 2 have pushed Rueben to the ground and are kicking him.

                                GUY 1
                    There’s no room for pooftas in this town.

Jeda launches herself throw the air and lands on guy ones back while laying into him with her fist.

                                 JEDA
                   You’re the only poofta around her.

He pulls her off him and throws her to the ground. She kicks up and hits him in the groin.

5. INT. LOUNGE ROOM- MORNING

Rueben is sitting on the couch bandaged and a bruised Jeda sits in the arm chair watching him.

                             RUEBEN
                      Bitch please stop staring at me.

Anarosa enters with some soft drink on a tray.

                                ANAROSA
                     You want anything else Senor Rueben.

                                 RUEBEN
                     What’s for dinner?

                              ANAROSA
                    Table under a duck.

                                JEDA
                    I think it’s duck under the table.
   
                             ANAROSA
                    How you eat it under the table?

                             RUEBEN
                    How about a cookie?

                             ANAROSA
                     Si senor.

Anarosa exits. Rueben looks over to see Jeda still staring at him.

                              RUEBEN
                    You are creeping me out.
  
                               JEDA
                     I don’t ever want to lose you.

                                RUEBEN
                    Nothing’s ever going to happen with you as my bodyguard.

                                  JEDA
                    Bodyguard?!

                                   RUEBEN
                     Yeah you kicked the crap out of that guy.

                                     JEDA
                     Mum always used to say our genders got mixed up.

                                       RUEBEN
                       It’s only mixed up according to society.

                                       JEDA
                          It’s so shit. They should go to jail for what they did.
                          It’s not fair that people treat you like that because...

                                         RUEBEN
                          Because...?

                                       JEDA
                         Well you know.

                                     RUEBEN
                          Because I’m so gay I piss glitter. I cop it all the time sis.

                                     JEDA
                         Well it’s gay... I mean...
 
                                    RUEBEN
                          You’re gay.

                                  JEDA
                          No you’re gay.

                              RUEBEN
                         Yes I am.

6. INT. LIVING ROOM- AFTERNOON

Rueben is propped up by pillows on the couch. Jeda enters from the hallway.

                                JEDA
                        Hey Rueben is it OK if I borrow that pink dress of yours?

                                RUEBEN
                      I don’t have any pink dresses.

                                 JEDA
                       Yeah you do.
                         
                                RUEBEN
                      No I don’t. But I do have a salmon halterneck,
                     a fuschia spaghetti strap, that magenta strapless, the
                     coral A-line, ooh and that cerise gown and my favorite 
                     rose slinky number. But honey you couldn’t pull that off.

                                  JEDA
                      Um... I think the magenta strapless.

Jeda turns to leave but turns back.
                    
                                 JEDA (CONT’D)
                     Will you be okay alone if I go out?

                                   RUEBEN
                     Oh darling I won’t be alone.

                                   ANAROSA (O.S.)
                    Oh Senorita Jeda your man candy is here.

She enters with an attractive male.

                                    RUEBEN
                      No Anarosa that one is mine.

                                     JEDA
                      I don’t get how you can be so upbeat.

                                    RUEBEN
                    Well honey I look at it this way life can be a big drag,
                     but I’m a bigger one. Aaaah haaa!!!

7. INT. LIVING ROOM- AFTERNOON

Rueben is now joined by Elliot on the couch and Jeda re-enters in a pink dress.

                                        ELLIOT
                    Wow honey that looks stunning.

                                        JEDA
                     Why can’t you talk nice like that to me Rueben.

                                         RUEBEN
                      Because I’m your brother and that’s weird.

Jeda turns to head towards the door and the heels she is wearing catch on each other and cause her to fall face first to the ground.

                                          RUEBEN (CONT’D)
                        Why don’t you just wear jeans and sneakers.

                                        JEDA
                         I have a date.

                                      RUEBEN & ELLIOT
                            Oooooh.

                                       JEDA
                           Ha ha you two behave while I’m gone.

                                          RUEBEN
                          Fat chance of that.

Jeda leaves and Anarosa enters with drinks and a bowl of chips.

                                           ANAROSA
                          Senor Rueben you must stop teasing me with
                          such beautiful men.

                                              RUEBEN
                           Anarosa he’s gay.

                                              ANAROSA
                            No, no, no.

The two boys kiss and Anarosa’s jaw drops.

                                              RUEBEN
                            Don’t be upset.

                                           ANAROSA
                             I no upset. You think your dresses and
                             shoes no give you away. Just like your
                             lesbian sister so obvious.

                                            RUEBEN
                              Jeda’s not gay.

                                             ANAROSA
                              But she no straight senor. She defend you so much
                              because she get the same treatment.

                                               RUEBEN
                             Why wouldn’t she say something?

                                               ANAROSA
                              After you take off after your parents die she no trust anyone.

Rueben picks up his phone and dials.

                                              RUEBEN
                                Hey sis. Sorry I been a dick lately.

He talks for a moment and hangs up.

                                                    ELLIOT
                                 What did she say?

                                                  RUEBEN
                                  She told me to put the bin out.

                                                  ELLIOT
                                  And...?

                                                 RUEBEN
                                  That she was planning on getting lucky so to not wait up.


The Challenge to write a Comedy in 1500 words
form open

Word count 1488

FGC2012 #5- Twitfic- Freedom

Tobias watched  the final drip get removed. His mother bald, emaciated and bruised was finally free. Her fight was over, the cancer had won.

Word count- 140 characters exactly


Challenge: To write a twit-fic style story.
Form: Open
Word Count: 140 characters

---

Writing an entire story in 140 characters was a challenge for me. It was a challenge last week to keep my story under 3000 words.

Alone

Last time I lay here, you lay beside me,
Now I lay alone with emptiness inside me.
What is she has that I don't,
I know I'd give u the things she won't.
I cant explain why I feel the way I do,
I knew things wouldn't work with you.
I told myself right from the start,
You were the kind of guy to break my heart.
But try as I might I couldn't stop trying,
Smiling on the outside, while inside I was dying.
Stupidly I let down the wall,
You set me up and let me fall.
We had some great times I know,
But I stupidly let my feelings grow.
I kept trying though I knew it was a mistake,
Now I lay here alone and inside I ache.
I still don't know why I let you in,
I can't explain how I let it begin.
You made someone who was once really brave,
Feel feelings and then crumble and cave.
I used to have a heart of stone,
But now I'm terrified of dying alone.

FGC2012 #4-Rendezvous

RENDEZVOUS

The night sky was dark but clear. Only this far out in the country was so many stars visible. Other than a few crickets and nocturnal mammal, the owl was very pleased with his roost in the highest tree. He hooted proudly and his large yellow eyes admired the last sliver of the moon before it would become the new moon the following night. He stretched his wings and knew that it was about time he found himself something to eat. He flew down the mountain to a shorter tree. Then he saw a perfect snack a small field mouse had stopped to scratch his belly. His muscles tensed as he prepared to dive for his meal but he was interrupted by a sound breaking through the night sky.

Pft-pft-pft. It was loud and getting closer. The owl looked for a second to see if he could see what was making the noise and then the second later he turned back to his food it was gone. Then around the side of the mountain came a large metal bird with its wings spinning around on top of it. Pft-pft-pft. The noise got louder as the bird got closer. The owl prepared himself to fight but when he realised just how large the strange other bird was he dove for cover in the nearest trees.

On board the large metal bird was someone else who was just as nervous about being here.

Paloma sat with her back to the wall of the helicopter, her knees drawn to her chest. Her partner Xander sat next to her. They were the last of five two-man teams scheduled to drop into the jungle at the most ungodly hour of the morning.

Xander stifled a yawn and tossed back his forth energy drink for the night.

“Those things will kill you,” Paloma said, repeating it three times before he finally heard her over the chop of the blades. He laughed and crushed the can with his hand.

“Are you ready?” yelled the third person in the helicopter.

“Been waiting all night,” Xander yelled back. Paloma swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Xander stood up first and the rappel master checked his harness, helmet and gloves for the tenth time since they were assigned the mission. Before Paloma found her feet Xander was off over the edge. The rappel master checked Paloma’s gear. She threw her deployment bag holding all the gear she would need on the ground and the weight to hold the rope down. She sat down in the doorway with her legs hanging over the edge of the helicopter. Her heart raced, her mind reeling with all kinds of scenarios; ,the dominant one revolving around the rope snapping and her ending up smashed up on the ground below.

“You wouldn’t be here if you couldn’t do it,” the rappel master confirmed.

She took a deep breath and turned the 180 degrees to stand on the skids of the helicopter: guide hand on the rope in front and break hand is holding the rope in the small of her back.

The rapell master nodded and pushed away with her legs, the ropes sliding through her hands.

The sky flew past her as she descended.

 

But when she heard the loud clang of that whoosh hitting the bottom of the helicopter she knew it was not the night air. There were a few more loud clangs. She knew that she had to start using her break hand or she was going to hit the ground with an almighty thud. She applied it as little as she needed to; knowing that the quicker she got to the ground the quicker that the helicopter could get to safety. She was only a few feet from the ground when the rope above her went slack. The ground came up to greet her much faster than it had in any drill she had done before. She tried to pull herself into a ball to keep from breaking any ankles or wrists. The wind was knocked out of her when she hit. When she opened her eyes she could see the helicopter disappearing into the night sky. She groaned as her lungs finally took in some air.

“Xander?” she called out. She unclipped her harness and coiled her rope hoping that Xander was doing the same. She still couldn’t stop the images of him impaled by a tree branch or torn apart by bullets from popping into her head. She stuffed the rope hastily into her bag and shrugged the pack onto her shoulders. “Xander?” she called again in nothing more than a stage whisper. There had been people shooting at them and she wasn’t sure how many shooters there were or how close they were. She pulled out her M9 handgun ready in case the shooters were nearby. She started her search for Xander hoping that he was ok. She heard a groan and headed towards the sound. “Xander?” she called again. Then she saw him lying on the ground covered in blood. She held her gun in front of her doing a quick sweep of the area. Just as she was about to take a step out into the small opening that Xander was lying in she was grabbed around the shoulders and thrown to the ground. Before she could get up a young man who probably still got checked for ID in a bar straddled her and held his rifle to her throat. Paloma kicked her legs about trying to free herself and the young man lifted the rifle and used the butt of it to lift the visor on her helmet that she hadn’t realised was still down.

While the young boy yelled to his friends in his language she knew that he was surprised to see a woman. She reached her hand for the gun that she had dropped as she was thrown to the ground. She finally managed to close her hands around her weapon and pulled it up as she squeezed the trigger. The shot let everyone in the area know their position but the bullet straight through her attackers’ forehead stopped him from hurting her. His nearby friends opened fire on her. She didn’t hesitate to return fire and the four shooters all dropped to the ground. Paloma hadn’t undergone years of training to miss a target.  As soon as she was sure the area was clear and there were no more nearby shooters she crouched at Xanders side and saw that he’s been hit twice in the upper thigh.

“Shit,” she muttered.

“Wash that mouth out young lady,” Xander joked with a forced grin.

“Do you think you will be able to walk?” she asked. He put his arm out for her to help him to his feet. He groaned as the pain seared through his body as soon as he put weight on his leg. She helped him hobble over to fallen tree to sit down on. She wrapped his leg as best as she could with the limited items in her packs first aid kit.

“You’ll have to leave me here and come back later,” he told her.

“No way in hell,” she snapped. “We are sticking together and we are completing this mission.”

“Do you even know where our attack point is from here?” he asked.

“Of course I do. Did you hit your head on the way down?”

Paloma helps Xander to his feet and the two of them hobble together towards a campsite set up in a valley. Xander did his best to hold back his cries of pain with each step he took but Paloma knew that he was struggling. She knew she had to get him closer to site then when they were close enough she would be able to leave him so she could complete the mission. Xander started getting slower with every step. Paloma stole a sideways glance at him and saw that he looked very pale. Her concern grew as he started to lean on her more and he started to stumble as well. Paloma could see that they weren’t too much further from the site and figured now was probably the best time to travel on alone. Paloma found some cover for him and leant him against a tree. She made sure his wound was well wrapped and he had a trail bar and enough ammo to defend him. Just as she was about to leave he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.

“Paloma,” he whispered between gasps.

“Yes Xander?” she replied.

“There’s something I been meaning to tell you but I’ve always been too shy… “He started.

“Oh Xander keep it for when we get home,” she told him.

“I don’t think I’ll make it home,” he groaned.

“Don’t be stupid,” Paloma replied as she kissed his forehead gently and headed off at a brisk jog towards the target location. On her travels she fished the out the suppressor for her M9 and attached it along the way. The last thing she needed was a gunshot to give away her location this close to the grounds.

When she reached the perimeter of the complex she scrambled her way up the face of the rock wall that separated her from the inside of the place. She flattened herself to the top of the wall to slide under the razor wire strands along the top. She was showered by chips from the stone wall as bullets flew around her. Lucky not one of them hit her. With three shots she took down all three gunmen shooting at her. She crouched low and raced towards the closest building to her. As she rounded the corner she came face to face with the barrel of a gun. She grabbed it and almost threw its owner to the ground before she realised that it was one of the other guys from her unit. She recognised him as a guy the others called Banana. The guys were often giving each other nicknames some she understood and some she didn’t. Banana had the misfortune of the last name Hammock. She saw that his partner Razor was right behind him. The three of them didn’t need to exchange a single word. They knew what they were here for and where they had to go.  They make their way to the next building over under the cover of darkness without being spotted by the roaming spotlight. The door is surprisingly unlocked and they head inside down a long dark hallway.

They check a number of doors making sure that the rooms are clear. Suddenly without any warning they are being shot at from behind. Paloma turns and double taps the shooter in the heart but she’s too late. She looks to Razor who is on the ground and when she noticed what was left of his head she knew that he was gone. She motions for Banana to keep moving. Even though she knows he is hurting emotionally. All the pairs had been training together for months and most were selected due to previous work together she knew that Razor and Banana had been working together a very long time. The two of them finally made their way to the end of the hallway and found what they were looking for. The room was dark with a few lit candles flickering across the room. There was a little red light blinking in one corner which indicated to the two of them that there was a camera. Then they saw who they had come for. The hostage. Only she wasn’t alone. The leader of this team of enemies they had been sent to take out had an arm around her neck and a gun to her head. The hostage whose name they knew was Hillary was badly beaten and was crying hysterically. Her captor growled at her and mumbled something in his own language. He unloads one bullet into the front of Hillarys shoulder. She screamed and tried to collapse to the floor but he held her up.

Paloma raises her weapon to take a shot at the enemy and he shoots Hillary in the knee cap. He pulled her in front of him to use as a shield. Banana drew a deep breath and waited for Paloma to take a shot. He knew that she was the top of the class for marksmanship with any weapon. She pulled the trigger and let out a sigh as the bullet sailed a few inches above his head and embedded itself in the wall. Banana could feel his jaw drop but knew this was one of those on the field mishaps that the two of them would never speak of again. The enemy leader held his weapon to Hillary’s temple and pulled the trigger showering him with her blood. He grinned at Paloma and before he could even take aim Paloma had put a tight grouping into his forehead. She dropped her empty magazine to the floor and reloaded and took out the three guards in the room before Banana had even had the chance to shoot one of them.

“Let’s go,” Paloma snapped as she led the way out of the building. Banana stopped to say a quick prayer over the body of his buddy but didn’t have time for much as Paloma kept walking. They had a Rendezvous point that they needed to get to and the time window for communication with their ride out of here was only short. 

“To the rendezvous?” Banana asked.

“I’ll meet you there,” she replied. “I have to get Xander.”

She ran off at a brisk jog, climbed the wall and made it back to Xander in no time.  She couldn’t see him where she had left him but there was more blood than there should have been from his injuries. She searched around the tree quickly and then when she was about to give up and head straight to the rendezvous point she sees him.

“Poor Xander,” she whispered to herself. His body was torn throw with bullets so much that he looked like a colander.  He also been strung up a tree by his feet and his throat slit like an animals. She didn’t have the time for a prayer or any farewell tears. She turned away as quickly as she could and picked up her pace to make it in time. When she got there she saw only three people standing there. There were two members of the team and one hostage. That meant the team had lost seven members and four hostages. Banana had the radio in his hand.  Paloma watched the time tick by ever so slowly. Finally she gave the signal to him and he turned it on. It crackled to like and the familiar voice of their command leader came through.

“Team Foxtrot do you read?” he asked.

“Yes sir we do,” Banana replied.

“How many are there?” asked the leader.

“Three of us and one hostage,” Banana replied. The radio is silent for what seems like an hour.

“Did you do some damage to their numbers?” he asked. Paloma takes over the radio.

“We sure did sir. I took out about 15 on my own,” she told him.

“Good job Bird,” he said. She had never been too fond of her own nickname. A lot of the unit thought it was because she was the only female in the unit so bird had stuck. But it had begun with her name because Paloma is Spanish for dove. But for the first time she was happy to hear it.

“How far away is the helicopter?” she asked. There is another uneasy silence. “Sir?”

“We cannot legitimise sending it back into that warzone for only four of you,” his voice full of guilt.

“That’s not true,” Banana cried taking the radio back off Paloma. The enemy started firing upon them again. The three of them put their backs together with the hostage in the centre of them. They take down another ten shooters that advanced on them. After a few minutes they have all changed magazines once.

“This is my last,” Banana admits.

“Same,” adds the other guy. Who she thought she remembered the boys calling Moses. More enemy soldiers advanced on them and they all did their best to hold them off and protect the hostage. Even though they knew it was all for nothing. Abandoned by their own in enemy territory even if they did make it through the night they would never be able to get anywhere. They all look to Banana as the unmistakable click indicated that he had fired his last bullet.  There is a long gap between any more soldiers advancing. They managed to fend off plenty more soldiers and then Moses ran out of bullets as well. After one more magazine Paloma is also out. After ten minutes without any more advancement from soldiers they start to think of ways to get out.

“Let’s face it,” the hostage piped in for the first time. “We’re going to die here.”

“Abandoned by our own country. What a sorry way to go,” Banana added.

“It makes sense,” Paloma said.

“I thought I would die as more of a hero,” Banana mused.

“I should have told my wife I loved her before I left,” Moses mused.  Paloma doesn’t respond.

“I wish I’d had the chance to get married,” the hostage piped in.

“I have no regrets,” Paloma smiled as she pulled out her two reserve pistols and crossing her arms over she manages a double head shot on two people at the same time.

“Who’s team are you on?” the hostage cries.

“My own,” Paloma replies as she heads off into the darkness. “Are you in?” The hostage looks around the darkness surrounding her and then follows Paloma into an uncertain future.

Challenge- to write a 3000 word action adventure story
Form- open
Word count- 2992

I know the world is cruel,
And the people unkind.
But I beg you my friend,
Please don't leave me behind.
I understand things are hard,
But please see it through.
The hardest thing I can imagine,
Is a life without you.
I'll be there if you need to talk,
And don't care how long I stay.
I don't want a life without you in it,
So please don't take yourself away.
I know that things are bad,
And you are feeling unsure,
But I tell you a world without you,
Will hurt so many more.
I'll always be there,
And dry your tears with a tissue.
Don't make a permanent choice,
To solve a temporary issue.
It hurts enough to watch
You when you cry.
So please don't ever make me
Have to say goodbye.
I have already had to bury,
Many a friend.
Tell me there's no reason
You'd want your life to end.
I'd do anything you needed
To help you survive.
These are the things I would have said
If you were still alive.
I wish I knew
What made you decide.
On such an
Unnecessary suicide.