Category Archives: #BlogBattle

#BlogBattle News – Week 11: When Lightning Strikes

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It’s Tuesday, and that means #BlogBattle time!!

#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by Rachael Ritchey.

radiating lightning

When Lightning Strikes

I enter the restaurant and find that Taylor is already there, she waves me over, we hug and I take my seat. “Good to see you Taylor.” I squeeze her shoulders before I sit down.

“It’s been awhile Andy, glad we can finally connect.  How was your trip?” She asks.

I give her the highlights of the trip, and finish by telling her how my flight back home was delayed, and what a hassle that was.

“Yep, it’s Mercury Retrograde” she says nodding her head knowingly.

“It’s what?” I question, not sure I heard her correctly.

“Mercury Retrograde, it happens several times a year, and lasts for a couple of weeks.”  She went on to explain, “Mercury rules communication, travel, contracts and clear thinking.  When it goes retrograde, it looks like it’s going backwards in the sky, but it’s not, so all those things get all discombobulated during this time.  Oh…and Mercury also rules a lot of industries like, writing, publishing, editing, advertising, sales, and anything to do with transportation, so there’s your reason for you delay, because we are smack dab in the middle of it, and it won’t be over for another couple of weeks.”

“Great, just great.  You do remember I’m a blogger, I’ve never heard of such a thing, why hasn’t it affected me before?” I ask trying to understand.

“It probably has, you just didn’t know it, and just blamed it on whatever.  You’ll see, the weird things that will start happening will start making sense to you now.  And yes, you are a blogger, research it.”  She says with a wink and a smile, and continues.

“Oh and Mercury also rules anything that begins with “re”.  So it’s a good time to redo things, reassess, refinance, redesign, reorganize, like some closets.”  She rattles the list off as she waves her hand back and forth, but then she stops and holds it up saying, “But just don’t sign any contracts or enter into anything new, that’s not good,” she says shaking her head.

We finish our dinner and part ways.  I go back to my apartment, even though I’m feeling a little jet lagged, I don’t go straight to bed.  I decide to research this Mercury Retrograde thing to see if what Taylor told me had any merit.  Got to love her, with her passion for yoga and her big compassionate heart for saving the earth.

The last thing I remember is picking up my phone, to set my morning alarm, when all of a sudden lightning splits the sky, and thunder rumbles through my apartment and everything goes black.

The sound of the phone ringing awakes me.  I mean a phone, actually ringing, like I remembered from back in the 80’s not my usual ACDC Back in Black ring tone.  My eyes adjust to my surroundings, and I see the huge phone sitting on the desk and instinctively I answer it with my usual greeting, “Sullivan.”

“New kid, you the temp? My office right now, got a job for ya,” the voice barks from the receiver.

“Yes sir.” I respond.

I rub my hand down my face and try to figure out where I am, and who’s office I need to find.  My mind is telling me that in almost the blink of an eye I went from being a blogger in 2015 to a news reporter in the 80s.  I am definitely in a news office, just like I’ve seen in the movies.  I find the editor’s office and walk in.  There is someone else sitting there, and I definitely recognize him, it’s my Uncle Jack, he’s the reason I went into journalism.

“So kid, here’s the deal, we have to revise our top story.  The Mayor has retracted his original statement on the issue since the whole crisis has been rectified.  The whole article doesn’t have to be rewritten, but Jack here will show you what needs to be done, to  have it resolved in no time.”

That seemed like a whole bunch of “re” in what he just said, or basically a big redo.  Just like Taylor said, and what my research confirmed, oy.

Jack holds out his hand to introduce himself, “Jack Sullivan.”

I firmly grip his hand, and respond “Andrew Ssuu…Sutton, nice to meet you.”

This ought to be interesting, seeing my uncle’s younger self in his element.

We get everything done, and end up at a diner.  This has been one crazy busy day.  I have to come clean and tell my uncle who I really am, and that I’m actually from the future.  I can only imagine what his take on all this will be.

“Good work today kid.  You remind me of myself when I was your age.  You look kind of familiar too.” He eyes me a little suspiciously.

“Yeah, about that, I need to explain something to you.  My name is actually Andrew Sullivan…uh junior, I’m your nephew.”  I allow that to register before I explain further.

“You’re telling me, you’re Andrew’s son?  Andrew isn’t married, he’s not that much older than you, and I know he doesn’t have a kid.” He says pointing at me with his fork to get his points across.

“Uh…I’m actually from the future.  I know it sounds crazy.”  Holding up my hands I say, “Let me ask you this, what do you know about Mercury Retrograde?”

He looks at me with a blank stare, “I’m in publishing, it’s been rumored that it does exist, and I know that we are smack dab in the middle of it as we speak.  I’ve never heard of anyone experiencing time travel though.” He says sounding interested for further explanation.

“Well the world is a different place.  The technological advances are something you can’t even comprehend.  Oh, and Uncle Jack, publishing as you know it, will be completely different, newspapers are almost non-existent.” I say with reverent disappointment.

“You’re crazy.  I can’t see how people would give up their newspapers, people like to read the news, not just watch it on the television.” Not wanting to believe such a thing.

“I wish I were.  There are other jobs out there though, like me for example, I’m a blogger.” Trying to explain myself.

“What? Where’s the red flannel shirt? You don’t look like a lumberjack, and what does that have to do with publishing?”

My uncle is well educated, I know he’s just messing with me, and I know he believes time travel is possible, we’ve talked about it. A lot.  Still, this might be more difficult than I thought it would be.  “Never mind, let’s just say that I am a writer, but not for a newspaper.  I don’t know how to even explain it or compare it to anything.” I say sounding a little discouraged.

How do I explain what a blog is?  Shoot, come to think of it, I’m drawing a blank of what blog actually stands for, is it an acronym for something?  Ugh…curse you Mercury Retrograde!!

I try one more time to explain, “Let’s just say, computers progress by leaps and bounds in the future, so much so that we can hold them in the palm of our hands.  But before I go, I want to leave you with this nugget.  If you remember anything from our conversation tonight, just remember one simple word for me, you might want to write it down, the word is Google.”

“Goo – What?”  He says as he pulls out his notebook and pencil.

“Google.” I say and then spell it for him.  “If you ever play the stock market, that’s one name you’ll want to remember.”

He shakes his head, with a resolve that what I just told him was gospel.

“I’m heading home before I get caught in the rain.  Nice working with you Uncle Jack.  If I don’t see you again tomorrow, you’ll know that I’ve made my way back home…I mean home as in my true home in 2015.”

As I’m about to leave, Uncle Jack calls out, “Hey kiddo, see you in the future.”  He salutes me with a smile.

I make it back to my apartment.  It is basically the same, except it is void of all my gadgets.  As I look around I see something sticking out from under the bed, I reach down to get a closer look, it’s my phone!  I try to turn it on just to see if it will work, and at that moment, there’s a flash of lightning followed by a roaring clap of thunder, and everything goes black.

My phone awakes me, blaring my familiar Back in Black.  I answer it groggily.  “Sullivan”

“Hey kiddo, you still asleep?  How was your trip? Must be nice to have those cushy blogger hours.  Just think if you had become a lumberjack like I always thought you’d be.”  He laughs into the phone.  “Never mind that, I was wondering if you’d like to come over and help with my deck, I’ve redesigned the whole layout of my yard.” He says enthusiastically.

“You’re redesigning things?  Uh…no thanks I think I’ll pass.  I definitely need some sleep.”

 

© 2015 Carrie Ann

#BlogBattle Loop Week 10: A Day in the Loop

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blogbattle-award-1Happy Tuesday, it’s #BlogBattle time!! Hop on over to Writing Rachael Ritchey to read some of the other stories.

#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by Rachael Ritchey.

A Day in the Loop

cloud-gate_C

It’s a beautiful summer day, a perfect day to spend in the Loop.  It’s only a short train ride for us from Indiana, so we do it often.  It’s what we do this time every year, it’s Jillian’s birthday, and her and I spend it every year in her favorite place, downtown Chicago.  We spend most of the day at the Art Institute; her and I both love the architecture and all the stairs in the museum.  We just get lost in all the beauty of it.  But our final stop is the stunning A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, taking in each detail.  Even though we have spent more hours than we can count just staring at this painting, we still find it fascinating.  For fun we have named every person and pet in it, and refer to them like they are old friends.

“So, do you think Jacques has introduced himself to Juliet yet?” Jillian asks me quietly.

“Juliet is not his type.”  We hadn’t noticed the two guys that came up beside us, this from the one standing next to Jillian.

“Oh really?  So who is his type?”  Jillian plays along.

“The hottie in the bikini,” he wiggles his eyebrows up and down, smiles and holds out his hand, “Hi, I’m Aaron and you are?”

Jillian says without hesitation,  “Leaving.”  She takes me by the arm and we walk away.  But before we get to the doorway, she turns around and playfully says, “By the way, I’m the Birthday Girl, and we are heading over to Giordano’s.  Since you obviously don’t appreciate art, I’m sure a guy like you can appreciate really good pizza.”  She gives him a wink and we leave.

On our short walk, we giggle like schoolgirls, talking about how cute they are.  They of course find us, sit down at our table and we place our order.  They properly introduce themselves as Aaron and Aidan Anderson, fraternal twins from Minnesota, here for an extended weekend visiting relatives.

I reply, “Nice to meet you, I’m Stephanie and this is my younger sister Jillian.  Actually, my mom calls us Irish Twins, we’re only 11 months apart, me being the oldest.”

We talk about our families, our hometowns, work and all kinds of things.  The conversation flows easily between the four of us, like we were old friends.  After I don’t know how many slices, Aaron declares, “This is the best. Pizza. Ever!!”

Aidan looks at his brother, shakes his head then smiles at me and asks, “So why do they call this area the Loop?”

I point my thumb over to Jillian, “Ask her, she loves it here and knows everything about it.”

Jillian smiles brightly excited to share her knowledge, “Well Aidan, you see most people think it comes from the “L” trains…”L” standing for elevated trains, which do actually form a loop around the downtown area.  But the name is actually from back in the 1800s.  It was the route of the streetcars that served the Chicago area that formed a loop.”

“Interesting, it’s a great city.” He sincerely says.

Aaron agrees, “It is.  After this we want to check out the Ledge in the Sky Deck of the Willis Tower, you should join us.”

Jillian rests her elbow on the table with a talk-to-the-hand gesture towards Aaron, and turns to me and says, “What did he just say?” in mock horror.

“Here we go” I say rolling my eyes.

“What?” Aaron asks confused, hoping he didn’t offend us.

Jillian puts her hand up further, makes a noise to silence him without turning her attention away from me.

I flatly reply, “You heard what he said.”

“Yes, but I don’t think I heard him correctly, Steph.” She argues.

Aidan and Aaron just look at each other utterly confused.

I try to calm her, saying,  “Give him a break Jilly…they are from out of town.”

Addressing Aidan and Aaron I try to explain, “Uh…Jillian has a little problem with it being called the Willis Tower.  Even though in 2009, Willis Group Holdings obtained the building’s naming rights.  We have always known it as the Sears Tower, and she fondly continues to call it that.”

As they all look at me blankly, I shrug saying, “I know a few things too.”

Jillian says,  “You’re right Steph, I am sorry for my rudeness,” she says to them sincerely.

“It’s just a thing for me, I know they earned the rights to name it, but still…it will always be the Sears Tower to me.  And yes, we would love to go with you to the Sky deck of the Sears Tower.  We were planning on that as our next stop.  After that, we will show you guys the Bean.

“What’s the Bean?” Aidan questions.

I reply with a smile,  “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

By the time we make it to the Bean, we all have had a great time, not wanting it to end.  It’s then that Aaron asks Jillian for her phone number so that they can keep in touch.  I see the quick look on her face, but only I know what it means, or notice it, she smiles and says playfully, “My dear Aaron, that would be too easy now wouldn’t it.  Here is what I propose.  We take a picture of all of us in front of the Bean, and we agree to meet back at the same place in the museum where we first met, the same time next year.  You know, you could just be reacting to the euphoria you are feeling from having the best. Pizza. Ever.  Let’s leave some things up to fate and destiny.”  She nudges him with her hip and gives him a wink.

I could tell that Aaron wanted to argue, but not many people could resist my sister’s beautiful smile when it makes her blue eyes sparkle even more.

Aidan then looks at me and asks, “Are we leaving things up to fate and destiny as well?”

“Sadly, yes.  The Birthday Girl has spoken,” I say as I look into his eyes a little more intently willing him to understand.

Before we say our good-byes, Jillian happens to look down and spots a penny on the ground, and enthusiastically picks it up saying, “Oh look a shiny new penny!!”  Smiling like she just found a million dollars, she puts it in her pocket.

We all just look at her amused, and she says, “What?  Some people say pennies are from heaven.”  That’s what I love about my sister, that she truly believes in all that kind of stuff.

Reluctantly we part ways with the cute guys from Minnesota with lingering hugs, and promises of “same time next year.”

Her and I walk silently back to the train.  Just as we are about to get on, I put my arm around her and ask, “Are you OK.”

She replies quietly,  “I will be, it had to be done that way.”

“I know Jilly…I know,” as I tighten my arm around her shoulders and lean my head against hers.

“Thanks Steph for a great birthday.  I think it was one of the best.” She says with a smile.

“Only the best for my lil’ sis.” I reply as we board the train to go home.

~ ~

It’s the same beautiful summer day, a perfect day to spend in the Loop.  I sit in front of the painting like I have done so many times before, but it’s not the same, as a lone tear escapes down my cheek, I miss her so much.

“Stephanie?” Aidan says as he walks up from behind me.

“Aidan, you’re here.  Where’s Aaron?”  I say looking behind him, searching.

Aidan looks at me with a look I see in the mirror, a look I feel every day, he says in a tremulous whisper, “He’s gone Steph.”

“Aidan, no!!”  I reach out to hug him, “Jillian’s gone too.”

“I know” he says.

“How” I reply with a questioning look.

“Jillian found me and contacted me and explained everything, I am so sorry for your loss Stephanie.  She asked me to be here for you, she didn’t want you to be alone.  She said that you were so strong and always there for her during all her treatments.  She wanted to be sure that you wouldn’t be alone, she knew that you would need someone to lean on.  What she didn’t know is that I would need you just as much.  She had sent a letter to Aaron, wanting to say goodbye to him in a more personal way than just sending an email.  I was never able to give it to him.  I received it the same day he was involved in a fatal car accident.”

“I am so sorry Aidan.  Thank you for being here.” So grateful he was.

“I just wish we were all here together.” His grief palpable.

“I’d like to think they are together…just not here with us.”

“So” Aidan said trying to lighten up the mood, “Let’s do all the things we’d do if they were here, like visiting the Sears Tower, and the Bean…

“And eating the best. Pizza. Ever.  I interrupt with a smile.

By the time we make it to the Bean, we decide to take another picture, make plans to stay in touch, and make this our yearly celebration.  As Aidan takes my hand to walk me to the train, I look down and there in front of us are two shiny new pennies.  I pick them up and hold them in the palm of my hand.  I look up at Aidan and say, “I was wrong, they are here with us.”

He smiles and says in amazement, “Pennies from heaven.” I put one in his hand, he kisses my forehead, and we walk away hand in hand.

 

Photo credit: http://www.chicagotraveler.com/cloud-gate-chicago

© 2015 Carrie Ann

#BlogBattle Madness Week 8: Don’t Feed the Animals

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It’s Tuesday, and that means #BlogBattle time!!  Wasn’t sure that I could get anything together this week, the prompt has been bouncing around my head all week, this is what I came up with.

#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by Rachael Ritchey.

675770

Don’t Feed the Animals

My teen-age daughter was just finishing up the dishes, when she says, “Mom, Mom!! Look at the cute bunny in the yard!!” Squealing like she was seven.

“Oh…he is cute.” I say, since I share her affection for cute, furry things.

“Can I feed him some lettuce?” she asks heading towards the fridge.

“Sure, go ahead.” I say appreciating her compassion.

The next morning I’m in the kitchen getting my much needed morning cup of coffee, like I do every morning.  While sipping my warm elixir, I start opening the blinds on the windows to let the sun shine in.  But this morning, I almost drop my precious brew.  I cannot believe my eyes.  Am I still sleeping?  No, can’t be, my coffee is nearly gone. I call for my daughter to help make sense of what I am seeing.  “Evie!!  Come down here please.” Trying not to sound frantic.

“What is it mom?” she casually says, as she continues to look at her phone.

Barely a whisper I say, “Look”

I point out the window, my mouth open wide.  There are rabbits, all over the yard.  They are in my garden, all over the grass, on the swing, sitting on the edge of the bird bath, and even some laying as if they are relaxing on the patio furniture.  It is literally wall to wall rabbit fur.  Some are eating grass, some are chasing each other, it’s a quiet chaos since rabbits don’t make noise, but nonetheless it is sheer madness.  There are so many, they are on top of each other.

Evie hardly containing her excitement says, “Mom!!  Look at ‘em!!  Look at ‘em!!  Where did they all come from?”

“I have no idea, I have never seen anything like this.  We have to do something.”

“First I have to get a picture of this!!  No one is going to believe it.” she heads for the door.

“You’re going out there?” I say hoping she will change her mind.

“Yes, of course.  They’re rabbits, MOM…not rabid squirrels.” She replies in her what-could-possibly-go-wrong voice.

She walks out the back door, and walks into the yard.  A path is cleared miraculously as if she were Moses parting the Red Sea.  But as she slowly moves, the most amazing thing happens, the rabbits are looking up at her, and have calmed down.  The only thing moving are their little noses.  Well…and the two in the back of the yard still grappling with each other, oblivious to the other rabbits around them until it seems the one rabbit next to them gives them a nudge to knock it off, and they immediately also stand at attention.  This is insane.

“Mom, are you seeing this?” She says, as I can hear her from the open window.

Then two rabbits make their way through the sea of fur and approach her.  She slightly bends resting her hands on her knees, and looks down at them intently and begins nodding her head saying, ‘Yes.  Ok.  Sure, I understand.  I’ll see what I can do.”

The two rabbits that approached her seem very animated, their noses furiously twitching, sometimes raising up on their hind legs, and then back down, Their tiny heads moving back and forth as if they are talking to each other, and to my daughter.  Which I know is not possible.

My daughter comes back in the house and says, “Mom, you won’t believe this, but they were talking to me.”

“Evie.  If those rabbits were talking to you, then I’m the Queen of England.” Playing along with her little charade.

“Well, with all due respect your Highness, I have to help them.” She says flatly.

Not abiding by her snarkiness, I reprimand, “Evie!!”  But I see the honest, pleading look in her eyes, and know that she is serious.  I’m starting to think there was something else in my coffee this morning.

“Ok, ok.  Do what you have to do, as long as they don’t stay here…” under my breath I say, “and none of them die.” I shudder at the thought.

“Thanks mom!!” She hugs me before she heads out the door.

The next evening, everything is back to normal, all the rabbits found a new home, Evie is finishing up the dishes.  She looks out the window and says, “Mom, Mom!!  Look at the cute little Gopher in the yard!!”

“EEE – VIE!!”  Is all I can say as I leave the room, carrying my glass of wine.

The events depicted in this story are fictitious.  Any similarity to any person/animal living or dead is merely coincidental…and a little embellished.  There may or may not have been five rabbits in our yard after we fed one the other day…just sayin’. 😉

 

© 2015 Carrie Ann

#BlogBattle Cosmic Week 7: The Rhythm of Life

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#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by Rachael Ritchey.

The Rhythm of Life

Sebastian entered the kitchen finding his mom making dinner.  “Hi Bass, how was school?”

“Fine.” He says with little emotion.

Sebastian walks into his room, drops his backpack on the floor and begins to change his clothes.  He mutters to himself, “Fine…Ha…school sucks. I’m sick of always being on high alert, constantly looking over my shoulder so I don’t fall victim to a stupid prank, and the name-calling is just stupid.  Those morons don’t realize how I could destroy them. I could easily hack into their precious social media accounts; I could embarrass them so bad their kids would blush.  Eh…They’re not worth the trouble, I have three more years of this BS, some days I just don’t know if I can take it another day, I don’t see how things will ever change.  Whatever.”

Deflated, he flops down on his bed and grabs the new sci-fi book he’s been reading.  He only gets through a couple of pages before he drifts off to sleep.

It is then that they appear, out of nowhere.  Aramis looks around at his surroundings.  Clothes are everywhere; there’s not one clean surface in the room.  Pop cans, candy wrappers, shoes, socks, all cover the floor, disgusted he asks, “Why are we here on this godforsaken planet again?”

Athos calmly replies by pointing to Sebastian sleeping, “Him.”

Perfectly on cue, Sebastian rustles, snores, frantically scratches his nose, then stills.

“Lovely.” Aramis flatly replies.  “No really, what is our mission Athos?”

“Sebastian here is very special, he has intelligence that is paramount to the future of his people, he just doesn’t know it yet.  He is being harassed from other humans in his institution of learning, and he is very discouraged, to the point of giving up.  We cannot allow him to do that.  He must use his knowledge for good and not evil.  He must be aware of his greater purpose, so that it takes over his being, where nothing can deter him to move forward.  Where he can drown out the noise that tries to distract him.  He will become like us.  But we must move expeditiously before the cosmic rain storm hits, and awakens him.” Athos responds.

Confused yet trying to impress his superiors with facts, Porthos says, “How will it disturb him?  Earth is constantly hit by cosmic rain, which is just dust particles, for the last 30,000 years…without notice.”

“Not today.  We’re here, it will be different…he’ll hear it. Ugh, you’re such a fledgling, you have so much to learn.”  Aramis says shaking his head in frustration.

Athos replies calmly yet sternly, “Yes, that is why he is here, the only way to learn is through experience, let us begin.”

The rain is steadily falling now, sounding more like pebbles than raindrops hitting the window, getting louder and louder.  Sebastian slowly wakes up.  He sees the three men dressed alike wearing some sort of green and black uniform.  He rubs his eyes, and groggily says, “Sup?”

Athos whispers to the others, “He’s awake, I’ll handle this.”

Louder and with more enthusiasm he addresses Sebastian, “Greetings and Salutations Sebastian, please do not be alarmed, we are here to help you.”

“Whoa…this is trippy, you didn’t actually say that…I’m not actually saying this, but yet we’re communicating.” Sebastian says a little disconcerted not sure if he is fully awake.

“That is correct, it is thought transference, or telepathy. This is Porthos and Aramis” as he extends an arm gesturing to each individual. “I am Athos, I am a cosmic soothsayer, I can foresee the future in any galaxy.  I am here to show you a glimpse of your future.”

“A soothsayer.” Sebastian’s says, his voice flat.

“Yes.”

“Like a psychic.” Sebastian questions for understanding.

Athos tilts his head back and forth trying to reconcile the ambiguity of the term is his head, but simply says, “Yes.”

“A clairvoyant?”

“Yes.” Athos replies impatiently wondering when this questioning will end, but indulges Sebastian so that his curiosity is satisfied.

“Like…the oracle?” Sebastian says with a little more excitement, like he just realized the answer to a million-dollar question.

“Yes.”  Athos replies more confidently, sensing that Sebastian relates to this.  He has been called worse.

Sebastian says, “Cool.” Completely accepting this whole situation. “So dude, what’s with the green and black uniforms.”

Looking down at his clothes and a little confused, Athos replies, “We scanned the earth for the most superior human exhibiting expertise in making other humans feel happy and content.  What we found is that the…” he pauses, looks down and leans his ear towards Aramis prompting him to share their secret with only him.

“The barista, sir,” Aramis replies quietly under his breath.

“Yes, the barista…had the highest levels, so we fashioned ourselves to emulate them, in order to not draw attention to ourselves.” Athos responds.

With his eyes wide with excitement Sebastian says, “Cool!  So you’re shape-shifters.”

Aramis looks at him and just gives him a nod confirming his observation.  Sebastian eager to see what will happen next says,  “So what do I have to do?”

“You don’t have to do anything.” Aramis replies.

“OK…but wait.”  Sebastian pauses and closes his eyes, like he’s trying to hear something.  “What’s with the music?  It’s like I hear it but I don’t. It’s more like I feel it.  It resonates from each of you with your own unique rhythm, but yet I hear, or feel them separately.  I feel calm, peaceful even hopeful.”

“Yes Sebastian, it is our natural vibration frequency that resonates from our inner being, it is who we are, it is the energy that helps us be who we are meant to be.  Humans have it too, but it takes them years to tap into it and learn to utilize it properly.  We are here to speed up the process in you, so that you will have it too.  Think of it as…the soundtrack to your life.” Athos replies with a smile.

“Ok then…do your thing.” Sebastian says without any hesitation.

They move towards him and Athos reassures him, “You will not feel anything, or remember any of this.  When we are done your natural vibration frequency will empower you to stand against anything or anyone who tries to discourage you to move towards your future.  Just relax.”  Slowly, their individual vibration frequency becomes louder as it begins to beat in unison, as Sebastian is lulled to sleep.

A flash of lightening fills Sebastian’s room followed by a loud clap of thunder which startles him to full consciousness as he bolts upright in bed.  He looks around, trying to get his eyes to focus.  He smells food, and realizes he is hungry.  He gets up from his bed, the book he was reading drops to the floor, and a white card falls out from between the pages.  He looks down at the blank piece of paper, and bends down to pick it up.  When his fingers come in contact with the edge of it, something slowly appears like when you turn on your phone.  Illuminated in blue letters, the card reads:

ATHOS
a.k.a. The Oracle

Cosmic Soothsayer

He drops the card on the bed like a hot potato, and it goes blank again.  He rubs his hand down his face and looks at it again and says, “Nah…it had to be a dream.”

As he leaves the room, he faintly hears music, or at least he thinks he does.  He turns to see if he left the TV on, but he didn’t.  He shrugs his shoulders and heads towards the kitchen feeling well rested and…empowered.

 

© 2015 Carrie Ann

#BlogBattle Blonde Week 6: Picture This

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#BlogBattle is a weekly short story challenge using a single word for inspiration.  Hosted by Rachael Ritchey.

I have been wanting to do some fictional writing for some time now, this was the nudge that I needed.  After reading the entries for a couple of weeks now, I am throwing my hat in the ring and joining in.  (yikes!!)

Picture This

It’s almost six o’clock on a Friday night.  Everyone else has already left.  As I put the last couple of files in the file drawer in the corner of the office, the light turns off.  Startled, I  say, “Hey, I’m still in here.”

“I’m, sorry, I didn’t think anyone was still here.” Quickly the light goes back on.

He enters the room with barely a smile on his face, I don’t think I have ever seen him actually smile.  It’s Ryan, he’s from our other office up north.  He was here for the week working on this project.  We’ve worked on other projects before.  He’s very focused and serious, tall, sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.  Usually not my type but I must say he intrigues me, there’s just something about him that seems…familiar.

“Oh, Hi Ryan, I was just finishing up, I didn’t think anyone else was here,” a little embarrassed that I’m still here on a Friday night.

“I was on my way out, and saw the light on.  Well…good night Sara.”  He turns to leave, but then he stops and slowly turns back,  “Would you like to get something to eat?”

Shocked, yet more excited than I should be, I casually say, “Sure.”

“I know of this great little diner we can go to.” As he leads the way out of the office.

Our conversation is easy.  We have a lot of things in common, we like the same kind of movies, the same kind of music, and we both play tennis.  He isn’t as serious as I thought, and I was correct in thinking I’ve never seen him smile.  He has a killer smile, dimples and all.  I would have definitely remembered it.

I ask, “Do you have any siblings? I’m the youngest with two older brothers, and an older sister.”

“Ah…the baby in the family,” with that teasing half smile of his.  “I’m the oldest with a sister and younger brother.”

“Ah…the serious first born, the one that does everything right.” I tease back.

“Well someone had to keep my younger brother in line, he was always getting into trouble.”  He shakes his head at the memory.  “It’s funny, we were just talking about some of the things he used to do.  I had forgotten about most of them, but he reminded me of one of the vacations our family took.  We usually went to the Indiana Dunes, my Aunt has a house there, so we would spend the week with her.  My brother and I spent all day on the beach.  One time we were walking around just laughing, he was always joking around.  We walked past some beach towels all spread out, which is normal, people leave them when they would swim.  But he sees a camera sticking out from under a book.  He gets the bright idea, to take my picture, and he does.  Returns the camera to it’s hiding spot, grabs my arm and we take off running down the beach. It happened so fast, I had no time to stop him.  I still can’t believe he did that.”

I am picturing the scene in my head as he is telling this story.  But then, I see it in my mind’s eye, the picture of the blonde kid with the blue eyes.  It can’t be.  As awareness dawns on my face, he just looks at me and says, “What?”

I don’t want to say anything until I’m sure, so I play it off, shake my head and just say, “Believe it or not my family spent vacations at Indiana Dunes too. I can not imagine your brother doing that, that is just too funny!”

“Yeah, he was always fun like that.  I can’t believe you vacationed there as well.  We have a lot of things in common.”  He pauses for a moment, finishes off his Coke then says, “I’ve really enjoyed your company, Sara.  I was wondering if you would like to play tennis tomorrow.  We’ve been cooped up in the office all week, I’ve been dying to get out and enjoy the nice weather.”

“I’ve enjoyed your company too.  I haven’t played in awhile, but it sounds like a great idea, it was a long week.”  I say, trying to appear nonchalant.

“Great, I’ll pick you up around 10.” He says.

We leave the diner and he walks me to my car, “Well, I guess now it’s good night, Sara.”

Flashing me that killer smile and for a moment I think I see something in his eyes, but then it’s gone.  It’s probably just my wishful thinking that he might kiss me, I silently berate myself to get a grip and calmly reply, “I guess so, thanks for dinner Ryan, I had fun. See you tomorrow.”

When I get home, I find the photo album on my bookshelf.  I open it, and start looking through the pictures, I turn the page and there it is.  With my hand raised to my mouth I can’t help but smile, there’s no mistaking those dimples.  I shut the album and get ready for bed.

The next morning, Ryan shows up a little early, I invite him in.  The photo album is still sitting on the coffee table where I left it last night.  “Let me get my stuff, take a look at that” as I point to the photo album, and leave the room saying, “It’s one of our vacations at Indiana Dunes, maybe you’ll recognize some of the, uh, landscape.”

When I walk back in the room, he looks up, holding back a smile and says flatly, “The landscape. Really Sara?” as he points to a picture in disbelief.  “Are you kidding me?  Did you know when I told you the story last night?”

“I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure, I had forgotten about it, and haven’t looked at these pictures in years.  But when you were telling me the story, that picture did come to mind.” Still not believing this is happening.

“What are the chances?” he said incredulously.

“I know! We could never figure out who took the picture, it was my camera.  My sister used to tease me about it, telling me that you were, I mean the boy in the picture, was my future husband,” hoping I wouldn’t scare him off.

Laughing he says, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”  He takes my hand as we walk out the door and says,  “Today…I’m up for a tennis game, we’ll just have to see what tomorrow brings, we’ll leave that up to fate, it’s worked pretty well so far.”

I hold on to his hand and can’t help but think today, I have a date with destiny.

 

© 2015 Carrie Ann