Mike was in town for only a short time. Ike was working like a mad dog, and was consistently unavailable to meet up with his old pal, even though he knew Mike's time was short.
"C'mon man. I'm not going to be here that long," Mike complained, the cell phone's weak connection adding to his frustration.
"Can't help it. I gotta get the car back upstate this afternoon."
"Alright. I'll tell you what. I'll ride up with you. Then I'll fly back tonight."
"No way you can get a flight back. Not during the holiday season like this."
"But I gotta be back. We've got the meeting on first thing in the morning."
"Not a chance."
"Let me check online."
Within an hour, Mike and Ike were on the road, laughing it up as they drove. Mike sat back, feeling just a little smug about how slick he was, managing to get tickets at such a steal during the holiday season.
The four hour drive seemed to end all to quickly, with Ike pulling in at the airport to drop Mike off.
"It was good to see you, Ike."
"Yeah, well, thanks for going to all the trouble to get these few hours together."
They strode to the ticketing counter together. Within moments, their bravado vanished.
"What do you mean, I don't have a ticket for tonight?'
"No sir. But I do see you listed for a ticket on the 5th."
"But I gotta be back tonight."
The ticketing personnel stifled a smile, the first he'd really felt all during this busiest of travel days.
showintale's blog
Monday, December 11, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Payday
It all started with the cash advance Jackie secured. I was in debt. Bad. I had gotten myself in all sorts of trouble with this bum from upstate. That's the guy who used to beat me up. It was him who'd run up all the debts in my name, to be honest. He didn't have any credit at all, so used my name all the time to apply for loans, credit cards, whatever. Before you know it, my own good name was spoiled too.
Then Jackie came along. He wasnt' rich back then, but he applied for a payday loan and helped pay off some of my debts. He invested a bit of it, and made some money. I don't know where he was investing it at first. I was too messed up to pay any attention. But as things started looking brighter, I started watching and learning. Sometimes it was property, sometimes gold, sometimes other commodities. But Jackie seemed to have a golden touch. And to think, it all started with that cash advance that he took out for my sake.
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Then Jackie came along. He wasnt' rich back then, but he applied for a payday loan and helped pay off some of my debts. He invested a bit of it, and made some money. I don't know where he was investing it at first. I was too messed up to pay any attention. But as things started looking brighter, I started watching and learning. Sometimes it was property, sometimes gold, sometimes other commodities. But Jackie seemed to have a golden touch. And to think, it all started with that cash advance that he took out for my sake.
showintale's blog
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Authorial Intrusion
Dear Reader,
I've been working on this blog as a form of exercise. I thought it would be fun to work on a particular aspect of fiction through blogging. Perhaps it is obvious enough to say I've been working on dialogue so far. This interest is generated by my love of texts written for the stage. So often on the stage, the action is mostly understood through a combination of the dialogue and all the "big" actions that can be shown, rather than through the subtleties that the screen loves so much.
In addition, I wanted to experiment with language and how each character's use of language affected that of the other characters. It hasn't quite worked out the way I wanted, and I am ready to try something new for a while. Perhaps I'll come back to these characters one day, and perhaps not. For now, though, I will just move toward a more general sort of story-telling, and begin working on other writing exercises and other aspects of fiction writing.
My apologies for this intrusion,
The Author
showintale's blog
I've been working on this blog as a form of exercise. I thought it would be fun to work on a particular aspect of fiction through blogging. Perhaps it is obvious enough to say I've been working on dialogue so far. This interest is generated by my love of texts written for the stage. So often on the stage, the action is mostly understood through a combination of the dialogue and all the "big" actions that can be shown, rather than through the subtleties that the screen loves so much.
In addition, I wanted to experiment with language and how each character's use of language affected that of the other characters. It hasn't quite worked out the way I wanted, and I am ready to try something new for a while. Perhaps I'll come back to these characters one day, and perhaps not. For now, though, I will just move toward a more general sort of story-telling, and begin working on other writing exercises and other aspects of fiction writing.
My apologies for this intrusion,
The Author
showintale's blog
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Log entry. 3 January. Group A (Patients 389645, 390086, 465791, 025486)
The session this morning was rather chaotic. Almost amusing in its chaos.
Patient 389645 was going on about "them," as always. The only one who seems to understand what he's going on about is Patient 465791, and that is just so she can sell him something, it seems.
Patient 390086 was rather a surprise. While she did mention Jackie, she had no whopping tales to tell. Perhaps she just didn't get a chance to get a word in, particularly with Patient 389645 carrying on as he did. The two of them were obviously at loggerheads.
Patient 465791 went right on with her programme, trying to sell something- anything!- to anyone who would listen.
Patient 025486 was cut off by Patient 390086, and clammed up. Oddly, Patient 389645 jumped to his defense.
showintale's blog
Patient 389645 was going on about "them," as always. The only one who seems to understand what he's going on about is Patient 465791, and that is just so she can sell him something, it seems.
Patient 390086 was rather a surprise. While she did mention Jackie, she had no whopping tales to tell. Perhaps she just didn't get a chance to get a word in, particularly with Patient 389645 carrying on as he did. The two of them were obviously at loggerheads.
Patient 465791 went right on with her programme, trying to sell something- anything!- to anyone who would listen.
Patient 025486 was cut off by Patient 390086, and clammed up. Oddly, Patient 389645 jumped to his defense.
showintale's blog
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Christmas Shopping?
"Psst. Hey! You there?"
"Of course. Where else would I be."
"Hey, don't sound so sad."
"It's just, ya know, being in here on the holidays and all."
"Miss your family?"
"I don't really have any family, except a sister. The one who visits me every weekend."
"Did you get her a present for Christmas?"
"How could I? There aren't any shops in here."
"You could shop online..."
"I've told you my feelings about that!"
"OK, OK."
"Besides, I don't have a dime to my name. Got some debts piled up too."
"Well... you don't like buying online, I know. But would you be opposed to making a few bucks there? There's lots to be had."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I can show you, next time we're in the rec room. We can get online there."
"Can't They see whatever we do then?"
"It won't matter if They do. Just don't put in any private info, ya know."
"Smart girl. That's always exactly what I say."
"Yeah, I know. I'm a quick study."
"Yeah, you are."
"Of course. Where else would I be."
"Hey, don't sound so sad."
"It's just, ya know, being in here on the holidays and all."
"Miss your family?"
"I don't really have any family, except a sister. The one who visits me every weekend."
"Did you get her a present for Christmas?"
"How could I? There aren't any shops in here."
"You could shop online..."
"I've told you my feelings about that!"
"OK, OK."
"Besides, I don't have a dime to my name. Got some debts piled up too."
"Well... you don't like buying online, I know. But would you be opposed to making a few bucks there? There's lots to be had."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I can show you, next time we're in the rec room. We can get online there."
"Can't They see whatever we do then?"
"It won't matter if They do. Just don't put in any private info, ya know."
"Smart girl. That's always exactly what I say."
"Yeah, I know. I'm a quick study."
"Yeah, you are."
Log entry. 23 December. Group A (Patients 389645, 390086, 465791, 025486)
Will begin new programme of treatment today. Four patients will begin regular interaction, instead of each interacting individually with me. The interaction between Patients 389645 and 465791 through the vents in their rooms gave me the idea. After reflecting on Patient 465791's interruption of the session with Patient 025486 recently, it more or less convinced me that group interaction should be useful for all of these patients. Will observe the interacting together over the next few weeks, as an experiment, to see if the sessions show any useful results.
Will begin the sessions after the holiday. For now, we will all rest and celebrate together.
Will begin the sessions after the holiday. For now, we will all rest and celebrate together.
Just to clarify...
"So you're saying you don't trust anyone enough to even buy things online?"
"Well, it is scary, ya know."
"Sure. There are plenty of scary things in life that we do every day, though."
"Yeah? Do you?"
"Sure."
"Not me. I'm careful. I know how to keep out of danger."
"Yes, well... you do walk down the street don't you?"
"No, I walk on the sidewalk."
"That's what I meant."
"Oh. Then, yeah."
"But that is pretty dangerous. Someone could mug you."
"Uh... not if you are careful. Like me. I know They are always watching, so I watch my back. Ya know?"
"Yes. Well... the point is, you do things, even if they are scary, sometimes."
"What's that got to do with shopping online?"
"Well, surely you see the connection I'm making. You claim it's dangerous to give out private details. I'm saying it's no more dangerous than things you do in life every day."
"Oh. Hm. I see."
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"Well, it is scary, ya know."
"Sure. There are plenty of scary things in life that we do every day, though."
"Yeah? Do you?"
"Sure."
"Not me. I'm careful. I know how to keep out of danger."
"Yes, well... you do walk down the street don't you?"
"No, I walk on the sidewalk."
"That's what I meant."
"Oh. Then, yeah."
"But that is pretty dangerous. Someone could mug you."
"Uh... not if you are careful. Like me. I know They are always watching, so I watch my back. Ya know?"
"Yes. Well... the point is, you do things, even if they are scary, sometimes."
"What's that got to do with shopping online?"
"Well, surely you see the connection I'm making. You claim it's dangerous to give out private details. I'm saying it's no more dangerous than things you do in life every day."
"Oh. Hm. I see."
showintale's blog
Online Shoppers
And I'm telling you, she just buys everything online! She was going on about books, DVDs, clothes... all that is alright. I wouldn't much want to do it myself, but I know some people do. And man, she was just going on and on. She was talking about the huge variety of things she buys online. Even gold and jewelry! Can you imagine?
So, she goes on like that, and it just struck me how dangerous it all is. How could you ever give your personal details out like that? Just think what someone could do with all that information they've now got on you. Scary stuff, man.
showintale's blog
So, she goes on like that, and it just struck me how dangerous it all is. How could you ever give your personal details out like that? Just think what someone could do with all that information they've now got on you. Scary stuff, man.
showintale's blog
Early Retirement?
"You mean you and Jackie tried to retire?"
"Yes."
"But you went back to work thereafter?"
"Yes."
"And then you started this successful business?"
"Right."
"And now here you are."
"Clearly so."
"May I ask a rather personal question?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"How old, precisely, were you when this happened?"
"Precisely?"
"Right."
"Well, it's hard to remember that exactly. I'd say I was about 25 or so."
"Only 25? And you were retiring?"
"Well, yes, but Jackie was older. In his late 30s."
"And retiring?"
"Yes. He did very well and had made some rather good money, and thought he'd settle down to a quiet life. But this opporunity came up-"
"Yes. So you said."
"-and we couldn't pass it up."
"I see."
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"Yes."
"But you went back to work thereafter?"
"Yes."
"And then you started this successful business?"
"Right."
"And now here you are."
"Clearly so."
"May I ask a rather personal question?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"How old, precisely, were you when this happened?"
"Precisely?"
"Right."
"Well, it's hard to remember that exactly. I'd say I was about 25 or so."
"Only 25? And you were retiring?"
"Well, yes, but Jackie was older. In his late 30s."
"And retiring?"
"Yes. He did very well and had made some rather good money, and thought he'd settle down to a quiet life. But this opporunity came up-"
"Yes. So you said."
"-and we couldn't pass it up."
"I see."
showintale's blog
Log entry. 21 December. Patient 390086
Patient was offended when she realized I do not believe the stories she has been telling. When I pointed out that people who have the sort of money she claims to have don't usually end up in this sort of facilities, but more upscale ones, she laughed at me. She claims that the money she and 'Jackie' have made is kept in a private account, protected from heavy taxation in this way.
She is good, I will have to admit. She comes up with an explanation for everything, and only very seldom waffles.
She is good, I will have to admit. She comes up with an explanation for everything, and only very seldom waffles.
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Log entry. 21 December. Patient 389645
Patient seemed to show concern for my state today. It seems he's coming out of his shell to some extent. Though he does still often revert back to his old paranoia. It is, still, real progress. He's come a long way since beginning our sessions together, though I must admit that it has been a frustrating path to achieve even the small bit of progress that we have seen so far. He is not easy to work with, not by any means.
showintale's blog
showintale's blog
Monday, November 27, 2006
What are you worried about?
"So what has caused this concern in you, about my links and my website and all this?"
"Oh, you know... I've always really only been concerned for your own well-being and all. I don't warn you like this for nothing, and I certainly don't get anything out of it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what do you think I get out of it?"
"Oh who knows? Maybe you yourself are working for some higher ups that give you a promotion if you somehow 'convert' me."
"Is that what you think?"
"Me? Oh no. Not at all."
"Then why did you say that?"
"I was just stating a hypothetical. To make a point."
"Yeah, well. You've made your point."
"What do you mean?"
"Is someone listening to us?"
"What?"
"Or watching us?"
"No. Of course not."
"Yeah. Sure. OK."
"You look uncomfortable."
"No- Ahem. No. Not at all."
"Oh, you know... I've always really only been concerned for your own well-being and all. I don't warn you like this for nothing, and I certainly don't get anything out of it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what do you think I get out of it?"
"Oh who knows? Maybe you yourself are working for some higher ups that give you a promotion if you somehow 'convert' me."
"Is that what you think?"
"Me? Oh no. Not at all."
"Then why did you say that?"
"I was just stating a hypothetical. To make a point."
"Yeah, well. You've made your point."
"What do you mean?"
"Is someone listening to us?"
"What?"
"Or watching us?"
"No. Of course not."
"Yeah. Sure. OK."
"You look uncomfortable."
"No- Ahem. No. Not at all."
Log entry. 19 December. Patient 390086
Patient is rather good at making the details fit into her narrative. She claims she is a novelist, and a famous one. Or rather, that she was a novelist, but gave it up for this love of her life who appears in all of her wild stories, this Jackie. But of course, her novels were of the racy sort, and not the type she'd use her real name on.
How convenient.
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How convenient.
showintale's blog
OK, but wait...
"Well, that's all well and good. And it does make sense. I mean, I understand it, for sure. But, I still have a question."
"What?"
"Are you telling me that you really were a successful writer?"
"Oh that. Why... yes... of course."
"Well, um... then, why have I never heard your name before meeting you here?"
"Oh. Hahahaha. That's easy. Of course I used a pseudonym. I wasn't writing precisely the kind of thing I'd like my real name to appear on, if you know what I mean. And besides, I have a half-crazy daughter who's convinced that every book I write is based on her. She's a bit of a narcissist."
"Oh. Well. Yes. I see."
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"What?"
"Are you telling me that you really were a successful writer?"
"Oh that. Why... yes... of course."
"Well, um... then, why have I never heard your name before meeting you here?"
"Oh. Hahahaha. That's easy. Of course I used a pseudonym. I wasn't writing precisely the kind of thing I'd like my real name to appear on, if you know what I mean. And besides, I have a half-crazy daughter who's convinced that every book I write is based on her. She's a bit of a narcissist."
"Oh. Well. Yes. I see."
showintale's blog
Recommended Reading
And so there I sat, at the book signing. It was hot, and the line was still very long, but I had only agreed to another 20 minutes or so. I knew my agent would hate it, but I wasn't about to stay a minute longer than I was obligated to.
And that's when it hit me. The writer's life wasn't what I was wanting. At least, not this sort of life. I mean, what Jackie was offering was just so much better, you know? I mean, who could resist him?
Recommended Reading
And that's when it hit me. The writer's life wasn't what I was wanting. At least, not this sort of life. I mean, what Jackie was offering was just so much better, you know? I mean, who could resist him?
Recommended Reading
Log Entry. 19 December. Patient 465791
Another odd session. Seems to be the week for them, I suppose.
Patient was trying to sell me property, and I had to explain to her how happy I am with my own arrangements. In the end, it seemed that I was convincing her to use my agency. Strange how the tables were turned that way yet again. I am not sure quite what brought me to do it. It was a surprise to me as much as to anyone.
Patient was trying to sell me property, and I had to explain to her how happy I am with my own arrangements. In the end, it seemed that I was convincing her to use my agency. Strange how the tables were turned that way yet again. I am not sure quite what brought me to do it. It was a surprise to me as much as to anyone.
Ocean Front Property
That's right!
You heard it here first!
We've got ocean front property, just for you! Call us today, and tomorrow you'll be suntanning on the sandy beaches! And for dinner, there's all the seafood you could want... right outside your door!
We're the property experts, and we're here to serve your needs!
Call us today. We've got the deal you are looking for, with locations all over the country, at the price you want.
Don't hesitate. Pick up the phone and call us now!
showintale's blog
You heard it here first!
We've got ocean front property, just for you! Call us today, and tomorrow you'll be suntanning on the sandy beaches! And for dinner, there's all the seafood you could want... right outside your door!
We're the property experts, and we're here to serve your needs!
Call us today. We've got the deal you are looking for, with locations all over the country, at the price you want.
Don't hesitate. Pick up the phone and call us now!
showintale's blog
A Word From Our Sponsor...
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showintale's blog
The market's never been better! There may neve again be a safer time to put your money into poperty!
Don't miss this opportunity today! We've got the right arrangement for you no matter what your budget, and we're always here looking out for your interests!
Don't miss out on the big chance! Call us today and we'll arrange what you need, when you need it, and where you need it!
We're the property experts!
showintale's blog
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Mixed Bag
Fiery icicles hanging from the lofty peaks of the random rainmakers. Riotous rolled-up youthful kittens rollicking about, winding through the thicket. They know, they know. They always know that life is no rifle range. Shoot the rapids, scale the ripples. Ripped up, ripped off, ribbons of reeking rabid wrappers. Rancid in the least degree, we are no more the boys of winter, nor summer.
showintale's blog
showintale's blog
Query
"I'm sorry. Can you say that again?"
"Wind, reigns, deer, closet full of poesies."
"Shall we all fall down?"
"What?"
-
"Again?"
"Um. I said, 'shall we all fall down?'"
-
"Do you understand what it is I am referring to?"
-
"You said a closetful of poesies. I picked up on the rhyme 'Ring Around the Rosey,' and made a pun on it."
-
"You do get it, don't you?"
-
"Don't you?"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahahahaha... aaaaaaaaah."
"Yes, that's it. That's it indeed."
"Poesies?"
"Yes."
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
showintale's blog
"Wind, reigns, deer, closet full of poesies."
"Shall we all fall down?"
"What?"
-
"Again?"
"Um. I said, 'shall we all fall down?'"
-
"Do you understand what it is I am referring to?"
-
"You said a closetful of poesies. I picked up on the rhyme 'Ring Around the Rosey,' and made a pun on it."
-
"You do get it, don't you?"
-
"Don't you?"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahahahaha... aaaaaaaaah."
"Yes, that's it. That's it indeed."
"Poesies?"
"Yes."
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
showintale's blog
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