Flash Fiction Homework Edition – A Knowing Glance

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I’ve been taking a Fiction Writing class at our local community college. Our homework assignment for tonight was this:

Write a short piece in which two friends meet after many years. One of the friends knows a secret that the other doesn’t, but which affects both of them. Write the scene as if you were a fly on the wall, from an objective point of view showing only actions and dialogue, no thoughts. Don’t let the person knowing the secret reveal it, but let the reader be able to figure it out.

Here was mine, with a nod to the Merlinian community for my own amusement –  let me know what you think!:

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Photo found on Pinterest.

A Knowing Glance

“Gwen, is that you?”

The woman stumbled at the voice and nearly dropped her toddler son, who was sleeping against her shoulder.

“Mo-Morgan?” she stammered.

“Hi! Yeah, it’s me!” A wide grin stretched across his face, dimples gracing both cheeks. “We haven’t seen each other in forever… how long has it been?”

“Three years,” Gwen said, smoothing her hand over her son’s hair. “Graduation night.”

“Oh yeah. That was…an awesome night,” Morgan said. “Although I don’t remember all of it… too much to drink, I guess.” He chuckled. “That should’ve taught me not to celebrate at The Tavern.”

She clutched her son to her chest, smiling slightly in return. “A night I’ll never forget.”

He glanced down at the child before returning his light blue eyes to her face. “Looks like you’ve been busy,” he said. “I take it you married James?”

“Yes. Yes, I did.” The toddler stirred.

“Well, it’s great to see you. Look, I’ve got to run to an audition.” He pulled a card out of his pocket. “Here,” he said, handing it to her. “My number’s on it. Maybe we can have coffee sometime?”

She gripped the card against her son’s back. “Sure. Sure, that’d be nice.”

“It was great to see you again,” he said. “Tell James hi!” Waving, he turned and walked off.

She watched him go. Her son looked up, giving her a sleepy smile. She stroked his cheek, her fingers lingering on his tiny dimple. Light blue eyes watched her, then turned to follow the figure in the plaid shirt fading in the distance.

“Dada?”

“Yeah,” she answered. “Dada.”

 

Links I Love: Week of HALLOWEEN!

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Seriously creepy.
Seriously creepy.

Oh yes, my 2nd favorite “holiday” is almost upon us, so a few of this week’s links relate to that creepiest, most orange and pumpkiny of days. The rest – well, see for yourself!

All-Time Greatest Halloween Costumes – Some of these are downright amazing. I think my favorite is the Man in the Box. What’s yours?

The Historical Basis of Lycanthropism, or Where Do Werewolves Come From? – Glad they clarified the meaning of lycanthropism (which, by the way, would make for an excellent Scrabble play). I wish more werewolves looked like Jacob Black.

Your Ancestors Didn’t Sleep Like You – Do you wake up a lot in the middle of the night like I do? It may not be strange noises, but rather biology. Read this and let me know what you think – does this sound better than our current sleeping strategy?

Fly Through 17th Century London – In preparation for my first trip ever to London NEXT WEEK,  I’ve been reading up about the city. This fascinating video gives you an idea of what medieval central London looked like – before the Great Fire of 1666.

Castle Fit for a King: Historic Home Owned By Henry VIII For Sale – I think I’ll buy this while over in England. What do you think? (Donations accepted – I’m only about £2.6 million short…)

What Is Your Writing Element? I like to talk about “being in my element” on a good writing day, and this fascinating article takes it one step farther, helping you determine indeed which of the 4 Elements (Air, Earth, Water, Fire) most epitomizes and motivates your writing. I’m predominately water-driven; fitting for a Pisces, no?

The Awesome-Amazing, Super-Duper, WINNING! Checklist for Surviving NaNoWriMo – Hey, I didn’t come up with that blog title, although I kind of wish I had. Check out Sarah’s funny-but-true list (I heartily approve of the recommendation for chocolate rations), and let me know if you’re joining me for NaNoWriMo in November.

Flash Friday Fiction: The Nose Knows

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When The Clouds Roll By, 1919. Public Domain.
When The Clouds Roll By, 1919. Public Domain.

“You’re sure this is going to work?”

“Yes, positive. I’ve done it a million times before.”

“So I just have to look at you and think hard? That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it. Stare deeply into my eyes and frown. The frowning is the most important part.”

“Why’s that?”

“The frowning shows you’re serious about this whole endeavor. Laugh, and the gods won’t grant you your request. Also, crinkling your eyebrows helps.”

“O.K… But I’m having a hard time keeping a straight face just looking at your nose. It’s the… it’s the biggest nose I’ve ever seen.”

“You don’t become a master of this without sacrificing a little beauty for the art. Now shut up.”

“O.K., O.K., I’ll be quiet. Look, here’s my serious face.” Silence reigned for about five seconds. “But honestly, have you ever LOOKED at your nose in the mirror? It’s freakin’ huge!”

The master heaved a big sigh. He glared at the peon before him. They were always like this, the good-looking ones. Shifting his fingers up into the joker’s hair and pressing deeply into the skull, he grinned inwardly. Mock me now, handsome man. I’ll be the one laughing tomorrow.

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Voila! There it is! The Flash Friday Fiction you’ve been waiting for! Let me know what you think.

Help! What Are Regency MUST SEES in London?

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St. James Square, 1812.
St. James Square, 1812.

I have a problem. It’s a good kind of problem to have, I’ll admit, and a very First World Problem, but a problem, nonetheless.

I cannot narrow down my London itinerary.

So I’m asking for help. Seriously. My husband is taking me to London the first week of November because he has a paper to give at a conference, and he knows I’ve always wanted to go, even more so now because of my interest in and desire to write about the Regency period. I kind of have this sneaking suspicion I’ll be able to write about it better once I’ve actually seen some of the historical buildings and artifacts and stood in the places where Regency people actually trod. I could be wrong, but hey, I’m not going to turn down a trip overseas.

The problem is, our trip is short: 4 days. I’ve already decided we are doing a day trip to Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Warwick Castle, because I really, really want to. That decision was simple enough. But it leaves me with 3 days – 3 days – to pack in everything else I can. And keep in mind one of those days we are likely to be extremely tired, since we’re flying overnight, arriving in London at 7 a.m., and neither my husband nor I can sleep on a plane.

So, if YOU only had 3 days in London and you were trying to soak up as much Regency “stuff” as you could, what would be on your must-see list? 

walkingaustenI have a bit of a head start in planning, in that I have Louise Allen‘s two great books, Walks Through Regency London and Walking Jane Austen’s London. They are replete with info on many of the iconic places I have read about in romance novels, such as Tattersall’s and Almack’s and Grosvenor Square, and have already helped me visualize the areas and connections between these places better than I ever have before.

However, I don’t think I could even fit in all her walks in those 3 days – how am I going to also get in trips to the British Museum and Apsley House and the like? What’s a girl who loves history to do? Especially when I also want to see Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London and St. Paul’s and…and…and…

I’d love your input. Please comment and tell me your Top 3 Must See things in London, even if they’re not Regency-related. But if you ARE a Regency expert, I’d love to know what you think I need to know. Are there specific parts of museums I should tour? Places with Regency history that I might not know about? Spots I can definitely skip?

My husband thanks you. He’s hoping to actually rest and relax a bit while we’re there, and unless I manage to winnow this list down, that ain’t happening.