Sunday, November 7, 2010

A Celebration of Death - A Saturday Centus

.


Jenny Matlock


Scene:

It’s 2am and Tom sits in his chair, hands typing away furiously on his laptop, fighting off sleep and mental exhaustion with cool jazz, green grapes and a glass of ice water.  His cat, Blue, lays behind his head on the back of the chair keeping him company.

Tom

I’ve got to post my Saturday Centus at least by Sunday,
Blue.  So much important stuff going on this week I won’t
have another chance.  Especially once the football games
start tomorrow.

Tom’s wife Teresa slowly enters the room, rubbing her eyes and seeming annoyed.

Teresa

Hey, are you coming to bed?  You know I can’t sleep when you are not there.

Tom

                        Oh really?  So does that mean you were just snoring for
                        practice?

Teresa

            Ha ha, very funny.  So maybe I slept a little bit.  Come to
            bed, it’s late.

Tom

I will.  I’ve got to finish writing this week’s Centus first.  After that I can relax. Go on back to bed and practice snoring some more.  I won’t be too long.


She leaves.  He blows her a kiss and returns to his typing.


Tom

(yawning)

This would be going a lot better if I had some clue as to what I was writing.  But I guess that’s part of the fun of this writing meme.  You never know what direction you will go in and then something clicks and the story writes itself.  Take this week’s assignment for example.  Write a 100 word short story using the supplied prompt, “It was the 11th anniversary of.”  There’s got to be a million ways to take that prompt.


Blue slowly sits up and licks her paw, then sits down facing the opposite direction with her back leg resting on Tom’s shoulder, tail flicking against the side of his face.


Tom

Well, at least you are not being distracting or anything, Blue.  Maybe you are right.  Maybe I should just quit for the night.  I could probably pick this up sometime later in the week.  I do have a whole week to submit it.

Tom looks at the bracelet on his right wrist.  The dark brown letters stamped into the leather read WWJD.  They stand for “What Would Jenny Do.”  He finds his resolve and decides to stay up and finish his Centus. 

45 minutes later:

Tom

Yay!  I finally finished it!  100 words!  Boy that was rough.  I hope everyone likes it.  Now all I have to do is write some weird intro that tells everyone what Saturday Centus is and how it is the brainchild of Jenny Matlock at her blog, off on my tangent, and to post their submissions back to her blog post so we can all read ‘em and comment on them.  It’s got to be different, though.  Maybe a different color font or type size.  Yeah, that’s a great idea.  Thanks for your input, Blue.  You are my favorite deaf cat.

And scene.


This is my effort for week 27 of Saturday Centus.  I have entitled it:


A Celebration of Life Death


November 24th.

A date that none of us could ever forget.

It was the 11th anniversary of  Mama’s passing and all of her children had gotten together that afternoon, as they had the previous ten years, to mark the occasion.

“I’d like everyone to raise their glasses in a toast to Mama,” Roger smirked.

“To Mama, for enriching our lives and bringing us together in joy and happiness.  Something you never, ever did for us when you were alive.  Let you continue to burn in Hell you miserable, evil, maniacal troll.”


Cheers and laughter rang out over the family as the champagne poured.



Jenny Matlock


Become a Centusian. 
It looks good on your resume.

.

21 comments:

  1. Well, when I finally found your post ....! I loved it! I'm sure (sadly) that there are lots of a families like that! hope mine isn't one though!

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  2. Your Centus offerings and preludes are unfailingly creative, and this one is no exception!

    Mommy Dearest: The glue that holds her family together.

    ;)

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  3. Yikes! Did they celebrate with a bonfire made of coathangers? Totally unexpected, but then, I never know WHAT to expect from you Tom. Which is why your stories are such a joy to read :) Kat

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  4. I have battles with late night, too. Sometimes blogging, sometimes reading, sometimes watching TV or Netflix on my laptop. Then I get up at the crack of 9:00 a.m. or so.

    Great way to honor your mom. Mine is just gone.

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  5. super use. Mine is where I hope to be in 11 years My divorce is imminent so I need to prepare to not look back

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  6. Yikes, I guess no one was too fond of Mama LOL. Great, unexpected take on this. I LOVED it.

    Who knew WWJD was for Jenny? I bet there would be a lot of people out there surprised, ha. Loved your intro.

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  7. Quite a beginning and then the surprise turn that grabs...excellent control of the reader! I so hope this is not how I am remembered when I am gone though. :)

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  8. A celebration of death. I didnt expect that at all.

    Harsh but very funny! ;)

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  9. I certainly hope this one is fiction. It's hard for me to imagine what a person must be like to be celebrated in death that way.

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  10. LMAO! Oh, Tom -- you are quite a character. Your humor is so fresh and wonderful. Thanks for the labor and birth of another great tale.

    :)

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  11. If only people were as honest as you are through your writing, there'd be many more of these celebrations. You're good at 2am.
    xoRobyn

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  12. For all of you followers of our Dear Tom, this is not really a fictional piece, thankfully HIS mother is still around and a great hoot. However, this piece is a very fair depiction of his mother in law. I love his writing and, obviously, love the man, considering I am his wife...

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  13. What a nasty bunch of boys, lol!
    Interesting interaction between Tom, Teresa and Blue as well. :)

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  14. I simply LOVE reading your posts!!! LOL :o)

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  15. Bwahahahaha! I love it.

    I love your cat, too!

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  16. Wow! That must have been some mean momma! Great use of the prompt!

    It only took you 45 minutes?? You are good!~Ames

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  17. I almost fell out of my chair laughing! What a great story. I think I know people who do this each year! Great job!

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  18. WWJD? OK, laughing my butt off totally. You are a nut! A wonderful goofball!

    I wrote this prompt because Saturday was my 11th Wedding Anniversary and this, sweet fella, was the best gift of all.

    You made my stomach hurt (and my butt fall off ....hmmm... we need to figure out how to sell this concept to Jenny Craig!)

    Thanks Tom.

    Love the twist.

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