The exercise:
Write about someone who is: indulgent.
We actually took a second day off today, which we haven't done since... nope, we didn't even manage that around our camping trip. So it would have to have been before the growing season started. If even then.
Anyway. We drove up to Penticton to do some shopping that we haven't had a chance to do after markets (when I generally just want to go straight home, unload the truck, and go the hell to sleep). So that was good.
I'll be back in the garden tomorrow morning to get some weeding done before we go back to harvesting for our next market. Which it kinda feels like we're doing every other day.
Mine:
"You can't sit there."
"What? Why not?"
"Phillip likes to sit there."
"Oh come on. Not you too."
"Phillip will be very upset if you sit in his chair. And that will make mother even more upset."
"Then let him be upset. It'll do him some good to not get his way for once."
"And mother?"
"She coddles him too much and it's effecting the rest of us. If we let this go on much longer we'll be both be sleeping in the garage while Phillip enjoys the comforts of our beds. So enough is enough."
"Please don't sit there..."
"He's not even home! Mother took him to the vet."
"I didn't know the vet treats mice."
"Yes, well, mother pays him very well. If she paid me that kind of money maybe I wouldn't feel the need to sit in precious Phillip's chair. As is..."
"What... what was that sound?"
"... it would appear that Phillip was not at the vet after all."
4 comments:
Spoiled
Rotten, too self-
Centered to notice that
No one likes spending much time with
Her -- a little screaming goes a long way.
But the new sitter locked the door
All her toys are no fun
If she can't throw
Them.
@Morganna:That central line is really powerful and really holds the whole poem in shape. I like especially how the balance of power between the girl and the sitter is neatly illustrated with the balance of their lines in the poem: the girl might seem on top of things and important, but the sitter's got the powerbase! Oh, and it tells a fun little tale too :)
@Marc: Days off? How dare you! Weeds don't stop growing while you gallivant around... :-P Sounds like you a had a fun day, and it is definitely important to have a day for yourselves every now and then. It sounds like you enjoyed yours.
Most (city) vets can handle mice, even rats; they're common enough pets that they need to. But I have a feeling that the vet can't perform the miracles that poor Phillip needs now. I like the conversation and back and forth, though I'm not sure I have all that much sympathy for either narrator; I think it's all gone on Phillip!
Indulgence
Ice forms like lace found on your grandmother's chair
Never covering eyes, but your face and your hair
Disdain body heat and grow decoratively cold.
Unlke the others your brain stays aware,
Light touches, like spider feet, flit here and there
Graining your skin until it looks old.
Every sensation steals an ounce of your soul,
Necessity makes you switch off your brain
Creatures are waiting to seize your last breath,
Eagerly feasting on pain.
The place he took me to was literally a hole in a wall behind one of the lower-quality market stands. Through the tears I was still fighting, I saw that strips of fabric had been sewn together to form a make-shift covering of the hole. As we approached, I noticed that the fabric trembled as if moved by a breeze only the air was calm.
At the opening of the cave was a crudely carved sigil; a spiked hand closing around a dagger. I involuntarily glanced at Journey’s left forearm. My suspicions were correct, his tattoo was of the same design, if more intricate in detail than the carving on the stone.
I made a move to pull back the flab but was stopped by Journey’s arm across my stomach. He pushed me behind him.
“I ask for shelter from those who wish to capture my spirit and frown upon the necessity of my actions,” he intoned solemnly.
I had never before heard his voice take on such a grave quality.
He then reached forward and pulled the fabric aside. Immediately inside the cavern stood two men, daggers poised for action. They nodded towards us as they lowered their daggers.
Journey’s hand was on my lower back, pushing me gently forward into a long, dark corridor. I wanted to tell him that the last thing I ever wanted to do was go into a Thieves Hole without any other Seeker.
But I was just too tired to do anything beyond ask, “What are we doing here?”
He have a dark laugh behind me. “You said you wanted to go someplace safe. Contrary to what you Seekers believe, there’s no safer place in a city than this. We have honor amongst ourselves, you know.”
“Why now?” I whispered. There was light at the end of the corridor. The narrow entranceway had opened into a surprisingly large room decorated in the brightest of colors. There were so many people gathered there, some that looked the part but many that I would never have guessed would be involved. “I’m still a Seeker.”
I turned to find Journey staring down at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he gave me one of his rare soft smiles.
“I’ve seen your world these past few weeks,” he said, just as quietly as when I spoke. “I thought it time you truly see mine.”
Morganna - great poem made better by the format you used. Very nice work - and one I can relate to some days with Max :P
Greg - yeah, I was trying to go for an unusual but not totally weird smallish pet. I think I was briefly tempted by squirrel...
That's a hell of an acrostic. Nicely paced and delightfully sinister.
Ivy - ooh, another fascinating tidbit from one of your intriguing worlds. Great atmosphere and details in this one. Would love to hear more from this one, as usual :)
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