The exercise:
Four lines of prose about: the favor.
There's been quite a lot going on behind the scenes lately. I think it's about time to bring some of it on to the stage, front and center.
I'm just copying this over from Facebook, where I posted it this afternoon. It wasn't planned for it to be four lines, but since it was...
Mine:
Could you do me a favor?
Go out and do something kind or generous. To a friend, a family member, or better yet a complete stranger.
@Iron Bess: "Mind out of the way" might be a Britishism now I think about it. It gets shortened to both "Mind out!" meaning "Watch out!" and "Mind!" which is more of a "Move please, this is heavy," a lot of the time.
ReplyDelete@Marc: Another Marc running around the world... hmm. I guess they'll have to be Eloo-too then :) Congratulations to both you and Kat though! Now we know how all the snow kept you occupied ;-) I shall immediately go out and help someone into traffic or something. Because that's what you meant, right?
The favor
"Miss, please, what's a favor?"
"A type of bean," said Miss Snippet, not even looking up from the book she was reading. There was a small silence, which she finally decided to fill. "It needs U before it becomes a generous act," she said, smirking to herself.
[As it goes, the autocorrect on this browser is determined to put the u back in unless I force it! And I know the bean's a fava but Miss Snippet is... cruel]
marc, for real? that's fantastic, congrats!
ReplyDeletethe favour
ReplyDeletea billionaire decided to selflessly invest in solar and wind power.
he wanted to leave this world a better place than the one he entered.
work began and by the time he was a grandfather, sustainable energy overtook obsolete coal fueled electricity.
one simple act dominoed into a thousand as others copied him all over, east and west; with one simple act did the world a huge favour.
@Marc - wow that is big. Congratulations and start catching up on you sleep now.
ReplyDelete@Greg - thanks for the clarification. Loved your favor (favour) piece.
@writebite - lets hope that you don't have to be a billionaire to start that process. My brother just put in some serious solar panels at his place and if the NS gov comes up with some help we are going to too.
The Favour
Jenna could barely see her real Papa behind the sunken cheeks and withered arms. He had always been larger than life with a booming voice and the strength of ten men, now he looked as if an errant breeze could blow him to dust. He called her over with a feeble wave of his hand, she had to lean down to hear what he had to say, it sounded like he needed a favour. "It won't be long now, and I don't think she can do it on her own, once I'm gone you must make sure your mother doesn't suffer long, I have warfarin in the garage," he whispered.
"Aren't you going to invite Lindsay over?" Kelsie asked hoping onto the bed.
ReplyDeleteAmy scrunched up her nose in disgust "Oh no, she wont be coming around here anymore!"
Kelsie raised and eyebrow "And what has she done to have fallen out of favor?"
Amy gave a wicked smile and chuckled to herself before answering. "It's not what she's done that's caused the rift." Holding out her hand she displayed Brett Oberon's onyx ring. "It's what she wouldn't do."
Marc- I read your message on facebook before posting yesterday's writing. We'll make this congratulations for your CSA bundles and yesterday's was for your November bundle. Oh heck.... congrats on your November bundle all over again!
ReplyDelete-----
Frantically I searched the floor and front seat for loose change in the short time I had before the next car would edge forward. Finding nothing, I carefully opened the door and scanned the pavement for a glint of silver. It was my turn to edge to the front and my searching had turned up nothing. “It looks like the gentleman in front of you did you a favor,” the toll attendant said as she waved me through the raised metal arm.
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I just thought I would mention that this was a true story (told in very short form) and a moment in my life that I will never forget. Since then, I always pay for a stranger's toll when I have the opportunity.... among many other things.
Greg - Eloo-too is actually a pretty solid name. Much better than Marc Jr, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteMiss Snippet, cruel? Perish the though.
Writebite - yes, for really real :D
I hope that we end up at that point, one way or another. Though really, I don't see that we have much choice.
Iron Bess - oof, that's a nasty position to find oneself in. The line with 'errant breeze' was a good one!
Krystin - oh, there's definitely more story to tell here. You've got me intrigued.
Anon - ah, I wondered if that was the case.
And now you've got me wondering who you are...
That's a great little story. The kindness of strangers :D
@Marc - yes Papa wasn't a very nice man it seems like.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! (Which I may or may not repeat on facebook... which I haven't looked at since Fiday)
ReplyDeleteFavour
The Gods survayed all the peoples of the land, determining upon whom they shoul dbestoy their Favour.
It was a difficult decision for the children whom they helped would be desparately needed in the years to come, centuries even, if the Great-grand Moyther forsaw correctly.
One child caught their attention as he fought imaginary foes with his shiny new sword underneatha a Willow tree.
They felt the fabric of space shift and peered closely, the Great-Grand Fayther adjusting the rift to allow communication but not a cross over as the Great-Grand Moyther whispered, "The Phoenixes."
The Phoenixes of Vervell, of course, Sarah and Hasón (formaerly known as JAson). *grins*
Cathryn - thanks :D
ReplyDeleteLike the new name for Jason - pronounced the same or slightly different?
Hasón is esentially a more phonetical spelling of the Spanish Pronunciation of Jason, the better to go with Manuel (formerly known as Mathew) and Grand Fayther Jesus (pronounces hey-zues). Basically all of my Vervelleans are getting more Spanish sounding names. I've yet to figure out the name flavor for Azure. But I think the Arenians will use short English names, all the more reason for people to think Sarah is an Arenian *grins*
ReplyDelete