Post by Kate on Apr 29, 2007 0:26:45 GMT -5
Hookay, this is something for a short story comp my english teacher sprung on us literally two days before it had to be sent off, and knowning my busy buzzing life I had like one hour to do it, and I'd just come back from training and was mega tired so it's kinda bad. But I thought I'd post it anyway as I haven't been overly productive lately:P
We had to choose a pre-written intro, and this one involved Justin waking up in the morning to find the house empty and a note on the table. (we're not told what's in it, of course)
-----
Justin stared at the letter for a full minute, his eyes flickering with confusion as he read and re-read the letter a dozen times. Then, in a moment of grim conviction, he went and dressed, slipping the note into the pocket of his jeans.
There was not a moment to lose. Justin grabbed his backpack and headed out onto the pavement, his world falling away beneath his feet as the contents of the note slowly sank in. The streak of bright, shiny cars lining the pathway was barely a smudge of colour on a black landscape to Justin, and he walked into corner shop as pale and lifeless as a re-animated corpse. He cracked a weak smile at the shopkeeper and bought a packet of muffins, aswell as a cup of hot tea from the vendor next door. He neither ate nor drank either of them.
On and on he walked, the minutes slipping away slowly and agonisingly. Gradually the world began to awaken, dragging the busy colours of city life out from the shadows. But none of the light reached Justin’s anguished eyes. He had to keep moving. People were beginning to wake up and go about their morning rituals; the blast of radios flooded through open windows onto the street. How could people be so carefree at a time like this? Frustration and anger boiled inside him, and he had to double his pace just to keep them at bay.
After what seemed an eternity, Justin turned the final corner of his journey. He found himself in a cemetery, but he was not alone. A woman was standing beside a newly dug grave, crying silently into her hands. Justin approached her and put his arm around her shoulders.
“Hi Mum,” Said Justin quietly into her ear, “I thought you might need some breakfast.” He passed the muffins and the now lukewarm tea into her hands.
“Thankyou sweetie,” She had stopped crying and was wiping her eyes on her sleeve, although her lower lip was still trembling slightly. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, and I’m sorry you had to walk so far. Your father is still with the undertaker- I think they’re going to have the ceremony early next week.” She paused for a while and began sipping her tea, her son observing her sympathetically. “I’ve been here all night… I don’t know, I guess I was trying to warm the place up a bit. It sounds silly, but you know how she hates change.” At this she attempted a faltering smile, but ended up collapsing into a fit of sobs.
Justin took the tea from her hand and hugged her tightly. “Come on Mum, lets get you home.”
“Actually Justin, could you sit with me a while? Would you mind? This is where’s she’s going to be now.”
And so they sat by the empty grave, finding solace in each other’s arms, until the late hours of the morning.
We had to choose a pre-written intro, and this one involved Justin waking up in the morning to find the house empty and a note on the table. (we're not told what's in it, of course)
-----
Justin stared at the letter for a full minute, his eyes flickering with confusion as he read and re-read the letter a dozen times. Then, in a moment of grim conviction, he went and dressed, slipping the note into the pocket of his jeans.
There was not a moment to lose. Justin grabbed his backpack and headed out onto the pavement, his world falling away beneath his feet as the contents of the note slowly sank in. The streak of bright, shiny cars lining the pathway was barely a smudge of colour on a black landscape to Justin, and he walked into corner shop as pale and lifeless as a re-animated corpse. He cracked a weak smile at the shopkeeper and bought a packet of muffins, aswell as a cup of hot tea from the vendor next door. He neither ate nor drank either of them.
On and on he walked, the minutes slipping away slowly and agonisingly. Gradually the world began to awaken, dragging the busy colours of city life out from the shadows. But none of the light reached Justin’s anguished eyes. He had to keep moving. People were beginning to wake up and go about their morning rituals; the blast of radios flooded through open windows onto the street. How could people be so carefree at a time like this? Frustration and anger boiled inside him, and he had to double his pace just to keep them at bay.
After what seemed an eternity, Justin turned the final corner of his journey. He found himself in a cemetery, but he was not alone. A woman was standing beside a newly dug grave, crying silently into her hands. Justin approached her and put his arm around her shoulders.
“Hi Mum,” Said Justin quietly into her ear, “I thought you might need some breakfast.” He passed the muffins and the now lukewarm tea into her hands.
“Thankyou sweetie,” She had stopped crying and was wiping her eyes on her sleeve, although her lower lip was still trembling slightly. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, and I’m sorry you had to walk so far. Your father is still with the undertaker- I think they’re going to have the ceremony early next week.” She paused for a while and began sipping her tea, her son observing her sympathetically. “I’ve been here all night… I don’t know, I guess I was trying to warm the place up a bit. It sounds silly, but you know how she hates change.” At this she attempted a faltering smile, but ended up collapsing into a fit of sobs.
Justin took the tea from her hand and hugged her tightly. “Come on Mum, lets get you home.”
“Actually Justin, could you sit with me a while? Would you mind? This is where’s she’s going to be now.”
And so they sat by the empty grave, finding solace in each other’s arms, until the late hours of the morning.
