ENG 162 Fall 2013

ENG 162 at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor ME, taught by John A. (Don't ever, ever ask!) Goldfine johngoldfine@gmail.com

Saturday, November 09, 2013

Week 12 Prompts

Prompts Week 12.  On your own website, take some risks with your three responses! There are risky topics, risky ways of writing about non-risky topics, and risky ways of writing about risky topics.  But this week is not about writing about some risky thing you may have done--that absolutely misunderstands the week.  Not looking for stuff you'd rather not write!

56. Sex, drugs, rock and roll!

57. My summer vacation....

58. I met the most amazing person last week.

59. The door slammed, and I never looked back.

60. I held you in my arms.

61. I am an English teacher. All English teachers lie. But I am telling you the truth.

61 A.  50 Ways to Leave Your Lover!

79 Comments:

Anonymous reetplus3 said...

57. my summer vacation


Ah, the thing I want to see on vacation: the moon after a beautiful sunset. Sometimes, though, the moon is seen when it isn’t suppose to be seen.
Our vacation began with a quick trip to McD’s. This was where we got our first look at the “moon.” The lady at the next table sat with her back to us, and what we saw was, to put it bluntly, disgusting. Yes, her “Half moon “ was showing, and if that wasn’t bad enough, she had chosen to wear her bright red thong on this day. “That’s not right.” I said, but somehow we did laugh about it, and kept looking. It didn’t get better. My husband said, “it’s like a train wreck. Not good, but you just keep looking.”
Another thing about vacations….I usually don’t forget anything, but this time I did. I was in disbelief to find out the only underwear I had with me… were the ones I was wearing. My first thought was to call my second-born and have her go buy me some, since she was at WallyWorld after dropping us off. “Just buy some when we get to Florida,” my husband said. “I could. I could wear my bathing suit bottom tomorrow on the flight.” Sounded like a plan.
As I talked to my first-born later that night via Skype, I told her of my stupidity. Her answer?
“Wash out the pair you have on and let ‘em dry tonight. Go commando to bed.”
“I cant’ do that! I want underwear on.”
“Try it, you might like it. You have to air that thing out once in a while.” (This is my daughter saying this to me!)
At this point my husband is shouting, “I tell her that all the time! I do it!”
“Too much information!” she shouts back.
“She can wear some of mine tomorrow,” he says.
“EEWWW, that’s gross,” she moaned.
“I’ll figure it out,” I told them both.
It was my mistake, so I fixed the problem. First stop in Florida was at WallyWorld for more underwear.

Sunday, April 17, 2011 4:40:00 PM  
Anonymous reetplus3 said...

59. The door slammed and I never looked back

Sew, sew, sew five days a week
That big check is what I seek.
Give me leather and give me thread
And I’ll sew shoes that are even red.
It’s all piecework, so I must work fast
I want my money to last, last, last.
Year after year I give my best
But I’m just a peon, like all the rest.
The big guys decide they want more money
They close our shop, sew not funny.
Sew down to Puerto Rico the work did fly
While stuck in Milo I knew I’d get by.
What can I do, if not sew shoes
I cannot let my family lose.
Go to college, take a class
Don’t just sit here on my ass.
Write that paper, read that book
Take that test, no time to cook.
Classes were work, just a different kind
Lots of knowledge, I did find.
Now I work with kids all day
Sometimes my work is just like play.
So screw those people who closed that door
I don’t work for them no more.
Fuck ‘em all, I hope they rot
A better job is what I got.
I think its clear, I can finally see
That slamming door was good for me.

Monday, April 18, 2011 7:16:00 AM  
Blogger Kristie Grant Canfield said...

58. I met the most amazing person last week.
Her name is Kate, but according to her name tag, she’s KT. She’s a single, bi-sexual mother of two. She has the prettiest sandy blonde hair that curls and looks great, at the same time it looks like she didn’t do a thing to it. She’s shorter than I am and that gives me a certain confidence. I admire her body art and watch it grow from a tattoo to a sleeve and a lip piercing to gauged ears.
We work in the muggy tight quarters of the busy restaurant side by side, day in and day out and it is here that we get to know each other, over the Pasta Fagoli and breadsticks. She likes to laugh, this I know. It’s the cutest little chuckle. She says what’s on her mind and when she can’t say it, she finds a bumper sticker that can.
Her smiles and the twinkle in her eye gives her crush away as she invites me to hang out after work again.

Monday, April 18, 2011 6:03:00 PM  
Anonymous reetplus3 said...

58. I met the most amazing person last week.

He was introduced to me by my husband’s aunt, who was with us on our recent trip. He was a friend of her son’s, my husband’s cousin, you know, one of those branches of the family tree that you never see, only at weddings or funerals. Anyway, this friend, Dennis, started right out with telling me, actually us, because you know that families stick together and there were many of us on the trip, about a recent medical trial that he participated in. Oh, did I mention that Dennis is the most gay person I have ever met? No, not happy, happy, happy. I mean gay, as in homosexual. As in the pink shirts, khaki shorts, swaying in his walk, and the sweetness in his voice when he talks. But anyway, back to the medical trial. Dennis doesn’t hide his sexuality, and told us that he volunteered to take unapproved, not yet proven to be correct, drugs for HIV. He never said why he made this decision, but he didn’t have any regrets. The most amazing thing was that at a recent check-up with his clinical doctors, they told him that they could not detect any signs of HIV in him now! He was just about dancing in his seat as he told us this. He’s proof that sometimes good things happen when they are least expected.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:01:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

Aw, reta, please submit 'Sew sew sew' to the Eyrie--I've shown it to half a dozen people (without your name attached) and everyone is wowed.

One person said: "Wow. I love it. Pretty strong statement and pretty angry and pretty darn real...."

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 10:33:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

57, reta, you win, I'm crying uncle--too much, eeeek--just like first born says, 'Too much information!'

In other words, a week 12 triumph.

:)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 10:58:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

Gotcha, kristie--and even in the enlightened world of 2011, I'd say that hits week 12's demands for risk adequately.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:23:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

reta, 58--interesting seeing your 58 next to Kristie's, since both stray into the same risky territory. I think trying to mix humor, portraiture, and a generally risky topic don't quite come off in this 58--the tone is off, the focus is lost.

But that 'Sew sew sew'!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:27:00 AM  
Blogger Kristie Grant Canfield said...

I would like to read more examples of non-risky material written risky?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:45:00 AM  
Blogger Kara said...

56. Sex, drugs, rock and roll!
My thoughts rushed through my head as I stared at that white dusty line of pain killer. Should I numb the pain or should I not?
My friend: Kara, try this, you will love the way it makes you feel, and it will help with your dilodid withdrawals (a pain medication my doctors had me in for three months straight, a synthetic heroine).
Me: Well what is it?
My friend: Perk’s, just one hit and you will feel better, mentally and physically. It’s great
Her red blurry eyes stared into mine while I contemplated, this is one thing I always said I would never do. Pot, sure….pills…fuck no!
Me (I looked down at the line, thought about my pain thought about my rage) Fuck it!! *sniff*
Can I ever go back now?....no I will always feel dirty because instead of walking away I said fuck it. Now I ask myself….will it happen again? So far, no…and I pray it stays that way, I don’t want to ever go back.

57. My summer vacation....
Sex, beer, pot. Sounds like a typical teenage summer but when I look back WOW what was I thinking.
The thing to do was go to the mudruns, get fucked up, and find someone that you (at the time) thought was attractive, hopefully the love of your life! The night was young and so was I. I drank until my face went numb, and his kiss just wouldn’t suffice, I needed more.
He said: You are beautiful, I really love your personality, I wish there were more girls like you out there!
Of course my belly fluttered with excitement and love, but now I know it was all just a “smooth talk,” that obviously worked for him and just caused regret for me.

59. The door slammed, and I never looked back.
My partner in crime, my shield in the war, the bonnie to my Clyde, my best friend. Who could ever replace her, no one. Who could ever make me laugh the way she did, no one. Do you realize how I used the word “did?” I will explain.
My life went up in flames when a rare condition took over my life and landed me in ICU on life support. I looked so innocent and I was in the most vulnerable stage in my life, I needed people around me who cared, and who loved me.
You would think my best friend would be there, wouldn’t you!? She wasn’t she was off with her boyfriend, not even thinking twice about me. That bitch found more time for her boyfriend then she found for me the girl she always said, “cradle to the grave,” to.
Cradle to the grave my ass. She used and abused me, and took my heart and stomped on it, so she received a big “F U” from me and I will never speak to that girl again.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 1:56:00 PM  
Blogger emily said...

58. I met the most amazing person last week.

Nobody's knows.
He caught my eye from the very beginning & I know I caught his too.
He stopped me in the bar, told me I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
I felt beautiful for the first time in a long time.
It wasn't just a pick up line.
I can't get him out of my head.
I'm not supposed to feel this way when I have someone else.
Sneaking around together, it's a high I never want to end and it won't.
I've decided I'm leaving my best friend and boyfriend of eight years.
Nobody knows, until now.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 2:23:00 PM  
Blogger Morkkis said...

56. Sex, drugs, rock and roll!

My first AAU basketball game and my mother said she’d be there. I looked for her after the game but it was just empty seats as I grabbed my gym bag and said by to everyone. I was 14.

I walked home. It wasn’t far. The game was played on the island so I just needed to cut through the woods. I wondered if my mother was ok.

I got to my driveway and walked down to the yellow house. The sky was black, grey clouds swarming above, delivering an almost certain tragedy.

“Oh, shit.” I said, closing the screen door and waiting outside.
I couldn’t see her inside so I figured I’d wait.
“This is not good.” Mumbled, heart racing. “I have to go in sometime. Why not now?”

I open the door and say nothing. The bottle of vodka sit on the table. She came out of my room.

She threatened to smash the bottle over my head. I knew she was afraid I’d be like my sister. But being so young I snapped and asked her why she was in my room.

“I was looking for the BB gun under your bed,” she said
I snapped again, “You do remember the cops took it because you shot at kids that were barking at our dog, right?”
She was disgusted.

My mother was drunk when she scolded me for the bottle. She kept it.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:47:00 AM  
Blogger Rebecca C. said...

58. I met the most amazing person last week.

There he is again. I met him during a class. We lock eyes for a moment, I turn away in embarrassment. I find myself just staring at him sometimes when I suddenly snap back into reality. His perfect smile that makes me feel all giddy inside. His strong, beautifully shaped muscles show through his clothing. And his eyes, are the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen. They are crystal blue and are surrounded by an almost black outline. They are strong and pronounced, but at the same time beautiful and have a certain humility about them. Is it shameful to say that I often dream about him in my sleep?

If only he would hold me in his arms so that I could look into his magnificent eyes and never want anyone else again.

If only, I were single.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 4:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Zoe Little said...

57


Blue skies, not a cloud in sight. The sun beating down on me while I sit back and enjoy the 90 degree weather. If it was humid, this would be too hot, but it's just perfect. I sit back in my beach chair, feet being tickled by the warm ocean water. I finish off my ice cold drink and pop the top on my next. Roscoe is playing by his self a couple inches out into the water. I lay my book in the white sand and close my eyes for a few minutes.
Perfection
I hope I get a summer vacation like this someday.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Zoe Little said...

58
(names and small details changed due to confidentiality)

Lucy's light brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun, she wore no make up and was wearing sweatpants and a "Busters Bar and Grill" sweatshirt.
She was holding an infant, probably around 8 months old, and had a young child (around 4) hanging onto her leg as the third, and last, child (10 years old) ran around her in circles flapping his hands.
After talking with Lucy for quite awhile, and hearing how her days began and ended, my heart broke.
She was only 35. She had 3 children, all under the age of 10 years old. Two of which had severe developmental delays. She was recently windowed, her husband of 13 years passed away in an unexpected vehicle accident.
Lucy was a stay at home mom, or was until her husbands death. Now, she had to find reliable childcare that she could afford and that she could leave her tricky children with.
Her new job, a cashier at a local convenient store didn't pay well and had terrible hours, but it's all she could find.
Lucy was a strong woman.
I couldn't imagine having one child with a developmental delay, but two?
And she was doing this all on her own. She fed the infant cheerio's, one handed, she kept the toddler busy by gently rocking her leg as he clung onto it and she calmed her oldest from a rage to a whisper like it was nothing.
Lucy is truly an amazing person, and an even more amazing mother.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:59:00 PM  
Blogger Kristie Grant Canfield said...

My summer vacation....
camera is such an innocent prop, or is it?
She was up early with a smile on her face. On today’s agenda: sun, fun, relaxation and cold beverages. Experience has taught her that the early bird gets the worm, and on this day, the early bird gets the best spot on the beach. She rents her beach chair, and as she snuggles down into it, justifies the expense ten times over. The sand of Magen’s Beach slithers between her toes. The sun is in the absolute perfect position in the sky.
Her Ipod’s in her bag, but right now she’s enjoying the sound of the waves crashing, the birds bantering behind her, and the children laughter as they play in the water. Her celebrity gossip magazine is in her bag, but right now she’s admiring the vastness of the ocean as she looks at the horizon line, the green lush vegetation that steeply meets up with the turquoise water, and wait a minute, …rewind….wipe the drool, close her mouth, put her eyeballs back in her head, nudge her girlfriend and grab her telephoto lens. Confidently strolling alone at a causal pace in his black Speedo is the tallest, darkest, handsomest eye candy. Surely he won’t notice if she snaps a keepsake to take home with her.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:40:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

I'd like more examples too, kristy, and will keep my eyes open, but those are the hardest to do. You take a bland topic--let's say making a PBJ sandwich--and somehow approach it in a way no one would ever expect. To do that is a lot harder than deciding to write about risky topics like s, d, and r & r.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:25:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

Who could ever make me laugh the way she did, no one. Do you realize how I used the word “did?”

Kara, 59--that's excellent, stopping the writing to point out a verb change to the reader. Very alienating, very much a way of pulling the reader in.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:37:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

kara, 57--"I wish there were more girls like you out there!"

That's not very smooth! He makes it sound like he wants more dating opportunities! Shouldn't the right line be: 'There is no one else like you out there, no one who begins to compare to you!'

Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:41:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

kara, 56--dialogues like this are always a likely and lively approach to topics

Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:46:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

kristie, summer--you handle that material nicely, building building building all those little details that distract in exactly the right way from what's really coming, which you deal with quickly enough so it's still fresh when the piece ends

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:05:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

zoe, 58--that's a strong tight profile, flexibly mixing Lucy's present and past and inserting the author's presence to just the right degree

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:20:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

emily, 58--that's very tight writing, nothing wasted, nothing out of place with a particularly strong and even surprising close.

It's a good thing I'm the English teacher and not Dear Abby, so I don't have to offer you any advice on anything other than the writing itself....

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:22:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

"I got to my driveway and walked down to the yellow house. The sky was black, grey clouds swarming above, delivering an almost certain tragedy. "

That's nice, morkkis--it's actually quite fancy writing disguised behind an apparent simplicity. You must have been pleased with it--or did you wonder if it was too fancy?

I don't want to make the mistake of encouraging a writer to present exotica in lieu of observation but I can't help enjoying something like this, which may not seem exotic to you, but to my middle-class, safe- life viewpoint certainly is:

She threatened to smash the bottle over my head. I knew she was afraid I’d be like my sister. But being so young I snapped and asked her why she was in my room.

“I was looking for the BB gun under your bed,” she said
I snapped again, “You do remember the cops took it because you shot at kids that were barking at our dog, right?”
She was disgusted.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:36:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

zoe, 57--one of those surprise endings, eh?

:(

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:37:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

rebecca, 58--'if only' indeed. We humans are a dark crew, not quite wired for happiness--I have dogs who are happy with a bed and a bone and a walk. Not us, nossir! You make that sadness and unrest of the heart quite clear.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:40:00 AM  
Blogger emily said...

59. The door slammed, and I never looked back.

"Can you not have Zues around when I come to get my stuff? I really don't want to see him, I can't."
For the first time in a long time he sounded like he had emotion inside of him. He hadn't show that side of him in a long time and that's why we are where we are now.
He came and I was nowhere to be found, from his eyes.
I watched out the window to make sure he didn't take anything that wasn't his.
Up and down the stairs, one thing at a time it all came out.
It felt good I couldn't move on without all this.
I waited to hear no sound before I went back into my house now, not ours.
It's done.
Just me and Zues now.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:54:00 AM  
Blogger Rebecca C. said...

57. My summer vacation....

It all started with a girl named Jess. We met in school and started hanging out almost everyday. We both loved having fun, but she was much more of a free-spirit than me. She would try anything, but I was much more hesitant.

Over the summer we did many things together, some not so fun, others I will never forget. We grew closer and became best friends. We were like two peas in a pod, ice-cream and sprinkles, spaghetti and meatballs, well you get the picture. We did almost everything together. If you found her, you found me. If you found me, you found her. Which brings us to the present.

Here we are, the last day of summer before we have to head back to school. I am taking a dip in the beautiful blue water and she is laying on a towel on the sand soaking up the sun. I suddenly realize that I haven't had lunch and I am getting quite hungry so I head back to our spot to hunt for some good food that we had packed earlier. She stares at me with a smile on her face, but at the same time as if she is almost bursting to say something.

"okay, what is on your mind? I know that look you have when you need to say something aloud."

"Well, I have to tell you something important and it has been on my mind for a long time now."

"okay?"

"You know how we have been hanging out and we have become good friends? Well, do you ever think we could be more? I mean, spending time with you has really caused me to like you a lot."

Oh, wow didn't see that coming. I think I just got sucker-punched by George Foreman.
What should I say? After all that we have done together, how can I tell her without piercing her heart?

Thursday, April 21, 2011 1:15:00 PM  
Blogger Rebecca C. said...

59. The door slammed, and I never looked back.

She screems with all of her might. She throws things accross the room. "It's not fair, it's not right, I don't ever get respect around here!"

I am so tired of the false accusations, the sleepless nights, and the sudden eruptions of bitterness. She can explode with the snap of a finger. We have always treated her with respect.

Mother yells to combat this chaos. Now everyone is screaming at the top of their lungs. It is like hell on earth every time I enter that house. I despise the atmosphere and heavy anger that surrounds it. I often will make other plans so that I don't have to be home very much and dread having to enter that battlefield of a structure.

Today I am breaking free. Today I am going to leave and never look back. What a sense of relief that I can be out on my own. I am moving a few boxes and with every box I am that much closer to breaking away and feeling true freedom for the first time. Her cussing is getting louder now. Another dish has been broken. I am almost in a full run now. I can see that doorway get larger and larger. I reach out for the handle and gasp for air when I finally get to the other side.

SLAM!!! Free at last!

Thursday, April 21, 2011 1:33:00 PM  
Blogger Kristie Grant Canfield said...

Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll!!
A Friday night and I’m stuck doing homework. Two math assignments, 25 minute power point presentation and a writing assignment are my dates for the night. It’s sunny out and a balmy 55 degrees which only adds insult to injury.
I can feel my mind drifting to the invitation that I had to pass on. My girlfriends are headed to the M Room. By now they are enjoying their happy hour. Still in their right minds, making sane, safe choices. Appetizers are on the table. The waitress is getting friendly with them because she sees how fun they are to be around.
Two hours later, they have downed double that in drinks. Malibu and diet is ordered by everyone. It only has 45 calories, after all. Who’s the designated driver again? Oh, right. The band is getting warmed up. Four 55 year oldish men sing the feel good songs of the past. Their voices are getting louder, their stories are getting more far fetched. A few are drunk texting.
Two more hours later my friends will be drunk dancing, singing with the band, hands waving in the air. It’s closing time, already? Not ready to go home, they begin to formulate the after bar plans. Someone’s hooking up tonight. It’s not going to be me though, for me, it’s back to reality and my risky writing.

Friday, April 22, 2011 8:23:00 PM  
Anonymous morgan said...

60. I held you in my arms.
It’s late. My curtains are closed and my laptop is open. Some sad shitty Spanish song is playing over and over again.

I do the two steps forward and the one step back, but with each sentence as my stride. One paragraph done. I delete it. No words can sketch how I feel about her, but only bring forth the smell she left on my pillowcase—the one I left 35oo miles away, on the bed where someone else lays now, renting the apartment out. She’s in that town. She’s still in that city with its crazy nights out and drunk college kids screaming everywhere. She’s too sweet for that—I lie, but I don’t want to.

I pound on the keys which are what brings me closer to her, and then delete it all. I can do whatever I want with my memories—change them, bend them to form shapes of desire, stretching them to form almost nothing, until finally this longing is gone. That, right there, is another lie.

It’s late. The curtains are closed. I lie on my keys all night. I get angry. I get sad. I get happy. I get hungry. I get closer. I get farther. I lie and lie and lie about her—in my head. But, when I held her in my arms, that was no lie.

Friday, April 22, 2011 10:35:00 PM  
Anonymous morgan said...

57. My summer vacation…

The hotel room was right on the other side of the fence where the pool was; the smell of chlorine seeped through the diamond fence and under the door, into the room where my father was too sick to endure the heat. He came out one night to watch the fireworks with me and the rest of the Martin family and then went out in the early morning of the hours to watch the waves of Jersey smash onto the shore.

The hotel room was cold, but stepping out into the sun when I woke up from shivers fixed it. I walked the boardwalk but my father stayed in the room. His bed had papers all over it from his crumbling business; a nightstand to the side of the bed had a cup with cigarette ashes and butts turning the old orange soda brown; a few burn holes around the bed and on the sheets from him falling asleep. I once drank a cup like that as a child—I thought it was ‘ooie’ which was what I called it.

The body and mind are most certainly too different things. My body walked the boardwalk and the beaches of Jersey, rode the rides in the amusement park, and ate fried oreos; my mind was in that room, that cold room on vacation where smoke filled from wall to wall of Newport Shorts, TV blasting, sandy shower and always damp shorts—but the two met at night, when my father would bribe me for another fried oreo.

Friday, April 22, 2011 10:36:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

morgan, 57--creeps me right out.

Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:32:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

morgan, 60:

I pound on the keys which are what brings me closer to her, and then delete it all. I can do whatever I want with my memories—change them, bend them to form shapes of desire, stretching them to form almost nothing, until finally this longing is gone. That, right there, is another lie.

It’s late. The curtains are closed. I lie on my keys all night. I get angry. I get sad. I get happy. I get hungry. I get closer. I get farther. I lie and lie and lie about her—in my head. But, when I held her in my arms, that was no lie.


Nice--nice messing with reader with paradoxes, nice play in the fields of the word, nice backing into dealing with stuff without ever beeing expository or obvious

Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:35:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

kristie--well, there you go! You've written about the blandest of all possible topics--doing schoolwork--in a risky way. That is, you've imagined the bar scene while anchoring yourself firmly to your desk. Works for me.

Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:39:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

rebecca, 57, sure even here in 2011 a risky topic--you do a nice job setting it up and ending it at the right place

Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:46:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

rebecca, 59--we can feel the emotion right there on the surface, which is risky, but it doesn't get out of the writer's hands, which is good!

Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:47:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

emily, 59--you deal with that prompt very nicely with those short dry sentences that manage to convey a lot of pain. Using Zeus to bracket the 'action' is perfect, at least for this doglover

Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:49:00 AM  
Anonymous Melissa said...

56.

We needed a break from the creepy people that kept asking us to dance and the loud music that was blasting in our ears the whole night. We walked up the stairs that seemed to be never ending. We held hands up both flights of stairs, like it was normal, latching onto eachother becuase we could barely walk. This was the second club in the same night that we had been to. Both places had open bar so we couldn't limit ourselves. We tried to limit ourselves but the bartenders and workers were making us take shots with them all night. They would say "Oh Seniorita! Beautiful.", then grab our hands and walk us over to the bar.

When we reached the top of the staris, a man that looked very scary and out of place was standing next to the wall in between the men and women's bathrooms. He seemed to be motioning to everyone who walked by and whisper something into their ear. We managed to sneak by and enter the bathroom where intoxicated people were everywhere laughing and kissing. Men were in the woman's and women were in the men's bathrooms. When we walked out of the bathroom there was no sneaking past the scary man. He grabbed our arms and pulled us toward him.
"Coke?"
The music was still loud so it was hard to hear him, "What?"
"Cocain?"
"Uhhh, no. Not tonight!" We didn't know what to do. So we stumbled on down the long flights of stairs running away while holding hands, going back to the loud music.

Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:20:00 PM  
Blogger emily said...

57. My summer vacation....

Summer has always been the same for me every year we head out to my camp with all of my family. When I say family I mean EVERYONE, the entire "Lonko clan" as we have been called before.
This is the place and the time where the parents get to relax and the kids get to go BUCK WILD! Us kids were always getting into something out there, just trying to make the days go by. We made a rope swing from one of the trees near the waters edge where we could swing on it down into the water.
My uncle had a sea-doo that he would ride on and us kids would sit out on the wharf just waiting for him to come by. Like sitting ducks we waited until he would come by and splash us with a big wave and tell him to "do it again!" He would take us skiing one at a time until all the kids got their turns, until it came to my cousin Nathan who had never skied before. My aunt got in the water and helped him to stay steady until my uncle gunned the ski-doo as fast as he could and up came Nathan out of the water with.... no pants on!!!! The entire crew of people watching were hysterically laughing and Nathan was embarrassed rightfully so, but at least they didn't see the other end!

Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Melissa said...

59.

"I'm coming to get my stuff". I said to him on the phone, suprised that he actually answered. "I don't care if you're there or not but I'm on my way right now."
He seemed confused but I didn't care. After what I just found out this was the way it had to be.
I arrive and he was there. The look on his face explained it all. We sat there together on the bedroom floor packing my few things that were left there. There wasn't much talking besides me asking him why he started doing that again. He had no answer. I didn't want to fight, fighting in a bad situation like this woouldn't make it any better. My few things were all packed and he walked me down stairs and opened the door. Starring into eachother's eyes neither of us could say anything. The best thing I did was walk out that door and shut it behind me.

Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Melissa said...

58.

A short, little, old lady walked into the bookstore where I work. She recently bought a sweatshirt from our store and wanted to exchange it for a different one becuase the neck was too high. She wanted the sweatshirt to be perfect with the UMaine black bear on it, so she could wear it to her grandson's game.
I helped her find her perfect sweatshirt. It wasn't her first choice but it was "hip". She knew her grandson was going to be so proud. At the register while I was checking her out she told me of stories how she makes money. She said she never spends her pennies, she saves them for an entire year and then cashes them in. She said she makes about a thousand dollars. Then she told me how she walks College Ave. and around the campus areas and collects bottles. She said she makes about five thousand a year from that. This time of year is her favorite because college students leave their old books outside near the road. She collects those and makes thousands off that too. This lady was truly an inspiration.

Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Zoe Little said...

59

It was my first job, I was so excited!
I was a senior in highschool and just got my first car, my sisters old 1997 Subaru Legacy Gt. I didn't have car payments, but did have pricey insurance.
I started work on a Saturday and got through my first 8 hour shift with a smile on my face. It felt great to be independent and to start earning my own money.
I went back to work the following weekend and continued my training. How hard could being a cashier be?
My second day, around lunch, we got busy and I was on my own.
I did my best, but knew I made a few mistakes while checking people out.
This continued for almost a month, I asked questions and asked for help, but was blown off every time.

"You'll get the hang of it, don't worry."

On my 18th birthday, I walked into work sporting my first tattoo, only two hours old. I was in a fantastic mood and ready to start my 9 hour shift.
After I clocked in, a fellow co worker informed me I was wanted in the managers office.

"Maybe she wants to wish me a happy birthday!"

How stupid was I.
My manager sat me down to tell me I was being fired. I had made too many mistakes during my shifts. My draw was "short" one week and the next it was "over".
The fact that I was never trained did not seem to matter. Her mind was made up, and I no longer had a job.
She kindly asked me if I would like to finish my last shift, and work the last 7 hours until close.
I not so kindly declined her ridiculous offer.
I slammed the door of that stuffy office and never looked back.

Needless to say, I never drive by Kmart without my middle finger waving and I made a promise to never work retail again.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 12:25:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

Melissa--clubs, men, and crazy ladies who inspire. The one I like the best and think best captures week 12 is the one about you and the guy without much to say to each other. The risk is the silence, the lack of drama. I like that.

Probably the traditional best would be the crazy lady one--a full portrait, including the author in a support role. But it seems too safe for week12.

The club one is kind of rough, kind of random, kind of here and there, all of which is a plus for week 12, taking a risk in writing style.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 6:54:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

emily, 57, nothing like a little unintended juvie mooning to get the laughter started, but as for risk? Risky topic?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 6:58:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

Hey zoe, well week 12 is the risk week: risky topics, risky ways of writing about nonrisky topics, or risky ways about writing about risky topics. I guess I left out nonrisky ways of writing about risky topics. Which have you got in 59?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:01:00 PM  
Blogger darci said...

59. The door slammed, and I never looked back.

Did I make the right choice? Is all I can think to myself as soon as the door slammed closed behind me. This is going to chance our relationship for the rest of my life. But, I'm Free from all the controlling parental ideals.

My mother had me under a microscope ever since I was little. She found out that I had a real talent for dancing and just pushed and pushed me.

When I went to college out of state for dance, and realized that this was not for me. I wasn't ready to be so far away from home. She was so pissed, said "your throwing your life away." (She always believe that I didn't want to be there because of Nick, which was not true at all).

They came and got me to bring me home, my mother gave me the silent treatment the whole 7 hours.

Getting home and unpacked my mother came into my room and started arguing with me. "you threw your life away, you'll never be anything!!"

"No, I will become something just not want you want me to do with my life. And, you have to remember this is MY LIFE not yours." Tears streaming down my face as I head towards the door.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Derek P said...

56. Sex, drugs, rock and roll!

There are three different ways people are towards smoking marijuana. There is the old school outlook where you hate it and wouldn’t think twice about being a part of it. The neutral side where if you see it on a ballad for legalization of some sort and just close your eyes and check a box. Or you are pro weed, which is where you think every one in the world should try it at least once and know just about every thing there is know about it.

In middle school I was brain washed to think that it was bad for you and would make you a worthless person if you ever even tried it. This was really what I thought about pot at first when I first heard about it. I heard about my cousins getting in trouble for smoking it and I asked what it was. I got that explanation and believed every word just a like the nieve little child that I was.

Come High school a lot of my friends smoked on a regular basis and I wasn’t say against it but never really had any interest in doing it. I think it was because I had that explanation in the back of my head. As time when on I was asked to participate and kept saying no and then maybe some other time.

Then one day it was my best friend and I just hanging out at his house one day. He pulled out a bag of the areas finest stuff and said “You down?” I cracked finally. I said what the hell, got to try it at least once. I decided to just take a couple of hits and see what happened. The second my legs started tingling and my eyes getting heavy I knew this was for me. Then my friend and I devoured about 3/4 of the food he had in his entire house then went and got fast food. From then on I decided to see if that explanation that I had believed for so long was really true. It turned out that it was very wrong.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 9:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Derek P said...

58. I met the most amazing person last week.

Last week I actually met a quite a few amazing people, amazingly gorgeous that is. See my girlfriend is in a sorority and they were having there formal dance which happens twice a year is a very big deal to all of the girls. So this is the first formal that I’d ever been to and to be honest dancing isn’t really my thing, unless I get a couple drinks in me then I seem to think its my thing but it still isn’t. But any way I didn’t know what to expect, so I got all dressed up and headed up to Orono.

When I got there none of the other guys where there, guess I early, but every single girl in the sorority was there. There was 60 outrageously hot woman packed into this apartment complex running every which way getting ready. So I took my sweet time trying to find my girl friend and just simply “enjoyed the scenery” so to speak. After a quick lap around this place I spotted her.

Looking closely at her I could see why she is better than every girl in this place. It was because I felt a connection with her when I saw her, instantly became more interested with her than any one else in the room. I knew her, I know what she has been through, I know what see wants in life, I know how laid back she is, I know she’s a hard worker, I know she’ll be a good mother, I know she loves me. That right there conquers looks any day of the week.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 7:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Derek P said...

57. My summer vacation....

The summer vacation of my 16th year of living was a terrible experience to say the least. I had just got my license the past October after I turned 16 and was finally eligible to send in, almost like a game show. I passed that test with flying colors, thanks to all of the time spent driving on camp roads as a child. Once I had my license I could finally apply to a job that I wanted so bad. It was a job at Pottle’s transportation washing trucks and laboring. But the catch was that you needed a license because you had to drive the big rigs after you washed them and maybe go on parts runs and things like that.

So I applied and got an interview just like that. They said that I could work over my summer vacation as much as I want and see what we could do to schedule around school. I was pumped to exactly get payed to do something I liked and loved being around. I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait until summer, it couldn’t come fast enough.

Two weeks before I start that job, I’m leaving a family cook out around 11 pm with my cousin in the car out in the depths of no where. I come to the four way intersection on my way home, roll up to the stop sign, don’t see any headlights for miles and keep right on going. That mistake right there single handedly ruined my entire summer. Sure enough there was a state trooper sitting some where around that area and pulled me over. Instantly thought I was wasted and peppered me with questions. After he ran all of my stuff and realized I wasn’t drinking he came back with two tickets. One for a rolling stop, and another for having a passenger that is not direct family. I was 2 days short of my 180 days to be allowed to have passengers. What a dick.

This made it so I couldn’t work at Pottles because I didn’t have my license, couldn’t go anyway during the day while my parents where at work, and if any of my friends picked me up I would have to give them gas money because of where I lived. I didn’t have any money because I didn’t have a job so it was hard to pay them. All in all, worst summer on record.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 7:41:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

59, darci--clever the way the piece ends exactly one instant before the prompt 'begins.' Works for me.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:43:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

derek, 56, a common enough tale, I understand, though I never inhaled myself....

There's a fourth stage you can't know about yet--the stage when the idea of smoking dope has lost all possible interest. The idea just does nothing for you, even if you used to enjoy it. That's about where I've been since the age of 40 or so.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:49:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

derek, 58--don't let her see this, derek, not until you revise it like this: "That right there conquers looks any day of the week--not that she doesn't have all her sorority sisters totally beat in that department too!"

Without my addition, you are indeed taking risks, derek.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:54:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

derek, 57--I'd say your big risk here is that you risk totally losing the sympathy of your reader: you did the crime, you paid the time. End of story! Of course, it's been a half-century since I first got my license so I am usually on the side of law 'n order, unless I'm on the motorcycle.

But you tell the story very well--balancing the great job against the teensy mistake that wound up costing you the job.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:59:00 PM  
Blogger Tara said...

60. I held you in my arms.

"Are you ready?"
Tara just nodded. The nurse left the room, only for a moment, then returned pushing a small crib from the nursery. Picking up the small bundle, she walks to the bed and places the baby into Tara's arms.
"Would you like me to stay?"
Tara simply shakes her head no. The nurse, after turning to look back three times, finally leaves her alone with her daughter. She looks at the tiny baby in her arms. She is so small! Light brown hair peeks out from under the tiny pink hat. Tara unwraps the blanket while looking at the peaceful little face. Ten fingers... ten toes... A spot of red shows on the little white dress.
Tears fall from mother to daughter.
Perfect... beautiful... dead.

Thursday, April 28, 2011 1:34:00 PM  
Blogger Tara said...

57. My summer vacation....

Someday I will have a real summer vacation. I plan to spend big money. Oh yes, there will be a pool, and I plan to fall asleep in that pool, on top of a ridiculously large floaty. Once I have officially become a lobster I will most likely have to get drunk to numb the pain. It's ok though... If I do I know I will end up hugging someone by the end of the night. Most likely it will be Lou. He and I used to be good friends. Now we only hang out once in a while. As far as the rest of the vacation... Sleep. After a night with Lou, well... He wears me out.

Friday, April 29, 2011 10:01:00 PM  
Blogger darci said...

60. I held you in my arms

She was the smallest baby that I have ever seen in my life. My niece, Katherine Mackenzie 1lb 7oz's. The moment they laid her in my arms, all i could think is what a little miracle she is.

Looking at her delicate features, the blue veins showing through her pale skin, the breathing tube that was around her tiny face. All of the IV's sticking into her. I treasured that moment. And, it was just a moment.

She was only allowed to be held for a minute or so before her body temperature started to decease. If I had only known that, their wouldn't be any more chances to be this close to her.

Saturday, April 30, 2011 7:22:00 PM  
Blogger darci said...

57. My summer vacation....

I was a pretty boring teenager, staying out of trouble, never going to parties and always being home before curfew. I can't say I was completely naive about what other teens did, I just preferred to ignore it.

The summer before I graduated from high school everything changed. My friends that I hung out with invited me to a bomb fire down by the beach.

I told them that I would go, I had never been to one before so I figured it would be fun. To my surprise this is where I learned about peer pressure.

One of my better friends was sitting beside me and handed me some pot. I said "no thanks"

"O, but come on, loosen up a little it won't hurt you"

"I actually prefer not to."

"Your such a baby, just grow up and have some fun."

"If this is what you call fun, than I'm out of here"

I got up of the log and headed back to my parents car. I knew at that point that my friendship had changed.

Saturday, April 30, 2011 7:33:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

tara, 60--nothing I can say about this one

Sunday, May 01, 2011 1:23:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

tara, 60--let me change my mind. This is beautifully, delicately written and it was exactly right to put it in third person.

Sunday, May 01, 2011 1:26:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

tara, 59--wow, those mourning doves! Remember week 11? That's pure week 11--that's what it was all about! What are those doves? Symbols of grace and peace arriving from heaven? Something to distract you? Accidents? Who knows, who cares! I love those doves!

Sunday, May 01, 2011 2:36:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

57, tara, and I am sure you will have earned it when it finally arrives

Sunday, May 01, 2011 2:40:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

darci--see my first comment on tara's 60--some topics lend themselves to writing, but aren't really up for comment at all, though I think you handled this topic with grace and taste

Sunday, May 01, 2011 2:45:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

darci, uhoh--I'm often telling my live students to loosen up a little bit! You understand, though, that I am offering them a keyboard not a joint!

Sunday, May 01, 2011 2:47:00 PM  
Blogger oroboros said...

56

When he was younger he let his hair grow long. He dropped out high school, rode a motorcycle, and listen to the loudest music he could find. He would inject/snort/smoke anything if it made him high. He didn't give a shit, consequences were for lesser men.

The was 30 years ago. Every mistake has left it's mark on his body and that dazed look lingers on long after he sobers up. His youth left him holding the bag and now he is paying the piper.

Sunday, May 08, 2011 12:49:00 PM  
Blogger oroboros said...

59

The blizzard was bad but no worse than the storm I had left raging in the apartment. Words were thrown around and they had been more biting than the cold I was suffering now.

My clothes were caked with ice, my body was so numb it hurt. But with each step, I was farther away from the drama at home. That freedom was worth anything, even frostbite.

Sunday, May 08, 2011 2:04:00 PM  
Blogger oroboros said...

57

Summer vacation is the escape from the banality of the rest of the year. It's a way out from the heartache and stress the colder months have left you with. You can throw caution to the wind, try things you've never done before. Indulge in free love and all it's cheap thrills.

I desperately need a summer vacation.

Sunday, May 08, 2011 11:31:00 PM  
Blogger Ryan G said...

my summer vacation.
The only thing I want is summer vacation. All I can think of is the long nights, and late mornings. The friends just hanging around, with nothing to do all day. But that is the worst thing to think of right now. I am thinking about staying up all night hanging out, while Mr. Goldfine is wondering why I am two weeks behind in his online class. All I want to do is get up at noon, but I can't miss bio class where Dr. Easton wants my lab reports that are "past due". I just want to spend a day at the beech, but Mr. Hillery wants my to focus on stats all week, yea. All I want is to have MY summer, and all my teachers want me to do is have their class.

Monday, May 09, 2011 7:47:00 PM  
Blogger Ryan G said...

I met the most amazing person last week.
It was a sunny day in Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately the mood was not set by this wonderful weather. I was heading to the hospital to see my grandfather, who was not new to the whole ambulance ride to the hospital thing. He was laying in his bed sleeping, so I didn't say anything. An hour passed before his doctor came in. I introduced myself, and the doctor told me that I was lucky that my grandfather was still alive. He said that my grandfather had a stroke, and a heart attack at the same time. They didn't know which resulted in which, but he did have both. At that moment my grandfather woke up and asked me how my day was going in slurred speech.

Monday, May 09, 2011 7:54:00 PM  
Blogger Ryan G said...

I held you in my arms.

I held my brother in my arms on May 13 1994, a Friday the 13th actually. He was a small baby, as babies go, but he was quiet. My mother didn't want me to hold him, because I was only 3 at the time, but I insisted, as young kids always do. I sat in a hospital chair and held him for a bit, until a show on the hospital t.v. caught my attention, so, forgetting I had my new born baby brother I got up and went over to the t.v. dropping my baby brother in the process, luckily my father was watching and caught him out of my arms.

Monday, May 09, 2011 8:01:00 PM  
Blogger Carol said...

56. Sex, drugs, rock and roll!

Freshman year of high school.
Trying to find my place in this sea of new people. The jocks, nerds, snobs, and druggies. I test the waters with the snobs. All they talk about is other people. Annoying. A brief second with the nerds opened my eyes to the A+ Student that I'm not. I spend a little while with the druggies.
That welcomed me to the world of pot.

I fought the peer pressure of pot for the most part until one night. The night I gave in. They closed the door, and the window, to make 'it' last longer, I guess. They pass it around, while everyone takes their 'hit' I pray that they know the drill and skip over me like usual. Of course not. I inhale.. I think. Then I began a coughing fit. When I finally stopped I was sick to my stomach. "I just wanna go to bed and forget about this" I thought to myself.

The lights go off. Finally. Not to long afterwards I start puking from the top bunk. The thoughts of This isnt even my house, I barely know anyone. Whos going to take care of my sick ass? quickly run through my head. Just then the door opened, and he comes in to take care of me, cleaning up my puke and giving me a cell phone to call my mom to get get me.

As I laid my head on my pillow at home, I decided that I'd continue being a tri-athlete in sports and nudge my way in with the jocks. No way I'm going back to pot. Ever.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9:53:00 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

59. The door slammed, and I never looked back.

The snapping of the screen door lingered in my head for months. I finally did it. I left. I left his nagging text messages wondering where I was when I wasn't with him. I left his usual 10pm phone call. I left him following me around in the hall ways during school, waiting for me after every soccer practice, basketball practice, and tennis practice. I left him. For months, everytime I heard a screen door slam shut, he rushed through my head, the good times, the bad times, and the time I heard that screen door snap shut the day I left.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:11:00 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

58. 57. My summer vacation....

Malibu rum and strawberry-kiwi juice and vodka and orange juice were the drinks of choices that summer. We'd play dizzy bat, flip cup, and beer pong. Friends would bring their friends who would in turn bring their own friends the next time. What started out as a small, semi-quiet get together to avoid getting caught for under age drinking, lead to some Saturday nights having 20-25 people gathered around a fire. The more people drank the more exagerated fish stories were told. Hanging out and getting drunk at bonfires in the middle of fields until 3am left me sleeping in cars with guys I had met the night before. Waking up the next day I didnt remember anything past pouring the first drink. The next day I'd crawl out of the car I'd slept in around 2pm, go home, shower, and wait for a text to see what we were doing that night. I had about five hours to sober up until the next drink, typical summer, right?

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:55:00 AM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

carol, 57--nicely described

carol, 59--but that piece is something quite a bit beyond 'nicely described'--it has edge and juice, it's mean as hell and proud of it and the writing shows all the flash and fire we could want! Try that for the Eyrie!

carol, 56--doesn't sound like much fun; you must wonder what all the excitement is about if you smoked once, puked, and never did it again.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 4:44:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

ryan--only 3? what were your parents thinking???

ryan--and the amazing person was the doctor or your grandfather? I'm bettin on grandfather.

"Mr. Goldfine is wondering why I am two weeks behind in his online class. All I want to do is get up at noon, but I can't miss bio class where Dr. Easton wants my lab reports that are "past due". I just want to spend a day at the beech, but Mr. Hillery wants my to focus on stats all week, yea. All I want is to have MY summer, and all my teachers want me to do is have their class."

--that's a nicely done compact piece squeezing a lot into a tiny space

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 4:52:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

oroboros--I think 56 is the keeper here, the one with some snap and followthrough

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 4:54:00 PM  
Blogger RJ Perry said...

57.
Evolution of Summer
Week 1:
Sleep all Day
Party all Night
Week 2:
Get a job
Party on days off
Sleep in spare time
Week 3:
Work 20 hr/week
Hang out with friends in spare time
Sleep all night
Week 4:
Work 40 hr/week
Text friends in spare time
Sleep all night
Week 5:
Work 40 hr/week
Sign up for online class
Work on homework well into the night
Sleep in spare time
Week 6:
Work 30 hr/week
Try desperately to pass class
No sleep.
Week 7:
Call out of work
Sleep
Week 8
Back to real school
Work 20 hr/week and hope all goes well.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:05:00 PM  
Blogger johngoldfine said...

Online is not "real school," rj????? How to hurt a guy!!!!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 3:52:00 PM  
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