The Day of Rebecca

The Day of Rebecca, or Dear Sister Without the Sister, is a play I wrote for myself and the other kids in the neighborhood to act out. I let each of them choose their own names and distinguishing characteristics about themselves. I was Rebecca, Brian was Jack, Rachel was Jessica, but I can’t remember who the other two were. Probably Paige and Aimee. I imagine this takes place in the same fictional Oregon town as Dear Sister and Jimmy Dearest. They have the same police force at any rate.

The Day of Rebecca
Written summer 1996
Age 12

Characters: Jack, Rachel, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Jessica. [Yes, I snickered to myself that two of the girls who had never read Sweet Valley chose the names Elizabeth and Jessica.]

Act 1, Scene 1

(Before school)

Rebecca: Where have you been, Jessica? I’ve been waiting here forever.
Jessica: I’ve been out on a date with Aaron.
Rebecca: All night? I think I’m going to be hearing about this for a long time.
Jessica: Your thoughts are correct. [This is a little risqué for girls 12 and 11 years old.]
Jack: (walking up) Hi guys.
Jessica & Rebecca: Hi Jacki.
Jack: Don’t call me Jacki! I’m better than everyone. My smile brightens everybody’s day wherever I go. [Haven’t we heard this before?]
Rebecca: Not mine.
Jack: I’ll choose to do you a faver, Rebecca, and forget that you ever said that to me.
Rebecca: Oh give me a break. (Jessica starts giggling and Elizabeth walks up)
Elizabeth: (with a big smile on her face) Hello, everybody, guess where I just came from?
Jessica & Jack: Where?
Elizabeth: I just got done helping at the homeless shelter.
Rebecca: At eight in the morning? (Jessica giggles)
Elizabeth: It was the breakfast rush.
Jessica: (Still giggling, Jack cracks a smile on his face but Rebecca still remains solemn.) Can you not just turn the perk down an itty bitty bit?
Elizabeth: What’s a perk. (Jack and Jessica giggle)
Jack: You, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: I’m a perk? [Single most memorable moment of this literary work. I actually still quote this sometimes.]
Jessica: Yeah, you’re a perk.
Elizabeth: But what’s a perk?
Rebecca: A perk isn’t a what, it’s a thing. And that thing just happens to be your personality problems.
Elizabeth: I have personality problems. (Jack and Jessica start laughing) What’s so funny?
Jack: You, Elizabeth. You’re funny. Do I have to spell it out for you?
Elizabeth: I’m gonna tell my mommy what you said.
Jack: You are 14 year old. Do you really have to act like such a baby?
Elizabeth: I’m not a baby. I’m a big girl.
Jessica: You are not!
Elizabeth: I am too!
Jessica: Are not!
Elizabeth: Am too!
Jessica: Not!
Elizabeth: Too!
Rachel: (walks up and steps between them) Will you two stop arguing like little babies?
Jessica: What are you doing here, Rachel?
Rachel: I have every right to be here!
Rebecca: (still frowning) You do not.
Rachel: I do too!
Rebecca: No, you don’t. It’s not your property. It’s Jessica’s, Rachel. [Probably Jessica’s parents.]
Rachel: Well, if you don’t stop criticizing me, I’ll tell my mom.
Rebecca: No, I’m not. If I were criticizing you I would have insulted you. And informing you of state law does not qualify for criticizing you, so stop wrongly accusing me, okay.
Jack: Hah, that’s what you get for poking your big nose into other peoples business. And now I’d like to know if we could all peacefully attend school together?
Elizabeth: My thoughts exactly.
Jessica: We’re off to go to school, with horrible, terrible Rachel. [I’m thinking Paige was Rachel. We were kind of mean to Paige. Which leaves Aimee as Elizabeth.]

Act 2, Scene 1

(After school)

Rebecca: (looking at the sky) Do you want to go to the mall, Jess?
Jessica: Okay. Why not?
Rebecca: Why not, indeed. (They take a taxi over, and it waits)

Act 2, Scene 2
(At the mall)

Rebecca: (Looking at a pair of trendy kind of boots with a wry smile on her face) Don’t you just love those boots, Jessica?

[Which back in 1996, might've looked something like these...]

Jessica: (looking mad) I saw them first, so stop drooling over them, and look at something you can afford. [Nice one.]
Rebecca: (sarcastically) But with them, I’ll be as popular as you.
Jessica: (Angrily) No you will not. No one--and I reapeat--no one will ever be as popular as me.
Rebecca: Oh, really? And how’s that?
Jessica: Because I’m too perfect for words, while ther not? [A little conceited, aren’t we, Jess? I wonder who I modeled you after…]
Rebecca: Haven’t you ever heard of sarcasm? (Jessica looks at her strangely) And besides, how can you be so sure that you’re so wonderful and perfect that no one will ever be better?
Jessica: What do you mean?
Rebecca: I’m just saying that you can’t garantee that you’ll be perfect and popular forever. On day you’ll grow old and ugly, Jessica. Maybe. [Yay! I finally spelled maybe right!]
Jessica: Just what are you getting at?
Rebecca: Absolutely nothing.
Jessica: Why don’t I believe you?
Rebecca: Just what are you getting at, Jessica?
Jessica: Absolutely nothing.
Rebecca: Then why don’t I believe you?
Jessica: Let’s just stop arguing like babies. This is really getting rediculous, Rebecca. We should really act our 14 years of age.
Rebecca: You say really too much. And besides, what’s getting rediculous?
Jessica: Will you stop acting like an airhead?
Rebecca: Depends.
Jessica: On what?
Rebecca: (smiles) Do you mind telling me what an airhead is?
Jessica: Stop it, Rebecca. You’re getting on my nerves.
Rebecca: Why?
Jessica: Forget it then! (she walks off stage)
Rebecca: Jessica, get back here!
Jessica: No!
Rebecca: How am I gonna get to the soccer game?
Jessica: Walk!
Rebecca: Fine. I’ll walk.

Act 3, Scene 1

(on the bleachers at the soccer game)

Rachel: Jack! Jack! He’s our man, if he can’t do it, no one can!
Elizabeth: You can do it Jessica! [I guess they’re on a co-ed soccer team?]
Rebecca: Jack! Jack! She’s our girl, if she can do it, I will barf. [You know, hurl would’ve worked so much better there.]
Jack: [In the middle of the game] (sarcastically) Thanks for your support, Becky!
Rebecca: (standing up) No one calls me Becky and gets away with it!
Jack: (Smiling) I’ll call you whatever I want, Rebecca! I’m better than everyone. Especially little schoolgirls like you!
Rebecca: That’s it. (She goes over and punches him in the stomack. He doubles over and falls to the ground) [It was originally balls but I think I changed it because we were acting this out and I didn’t actually want to hurt Brian.] I am no little schoolgirl.

Act 4, Scene 1

(In Rebecca’s kitchen)

Jessica: I can’t believe you did that to poor Jack.
Rebecca: Why not? Wouldn’t you have done the same thing?
Jessica: No.
Rebecca: Why not?
Jessica: Because it’s a mean thing to do, Rebecca. Real mean.
Rebecca: This is Jack we’re talking about. No Mother Teresa. In other words, we don’t--and I repeat--don’t have to be nice to him. [WHY do these people hang out together? They‘re clearly NOT friends.]
Jessica: I’m getting tired of this, Rebecca.
Rebecca: They why don’t we go for a walk. [Oh noes! We know what happens when girls go for walks in my stories.]
Jessica: Sure. It’s better than arguing with you.
Rebecca; (getting up) I’m gonna tell my parents I’m in my room. [Yes, tell her about your alibi.]
Jessica: Why?
Rebecca: I’m grounded for the Jack thing, They don’t even know that you’re here, Jessica. [They must be deaf if they didn’t hear that argument.] (She leaves for a moment, then comes back.)
Jessica: So we’re we going?
Rebecca: How about the ridge? [I smell murder. And a reused plot device.]
Jessica: That sounds simply divine.

Act 5

(At the ridge)

Jessica: It’s nice up here, isn’t it?
Rebecca: No. It’s deadly.
Jessica: Rebecca, what do you mean?
Rebecca: Look at you. You’ve always been popular at school. I’m sick of it. Everyone’s always adored you more than anything. It’s always made me sick that you’re always happy. But with you dead, you won’t be happy. And niether will anybody else. Anybody but me that is. I’ll be happy. [At least it’s a slightly less generic motive than Andy and Izzy’s in Dear Sister]
Jessica: I don’t get it.
Rebecca: I’m gonna kill you, Jessica. Today is the day of Rebecca. [Title!] Say goodbye to the cruel world. [I was fond of this phrase, wasn’t I?]
Jessica: I thought we were friends.
Rebecca: Well you thought wrong. Because we’re not, and we never were. Goodbye, Jessica. (She pushes her.)
Jessica: Nooooo. . . . . .

Act 6, Scene 1

(At Jessica’s funeral)

Elizabeth: I can’t believe she’s gone.
Rachel: I know. To think just 3 days ago, she was here.
Jack: It’s [letters blotted out with drop of liquid and I can‘t figure out what it was supposed to be]age, isn’t it. It looks like Rebecca’s taking it the hardest. Look at her over there all by herself.
Rachel: Yeah.
Elizabeth: You know what, you two.
Jack & Rachel: What?
Elizabeth: When I save the whales, I’m gonna dedicate it to Jessica, The greates person I’ve ever known. [Gag]

* * * * *

It was fun when we acted it out. I think a lot of those kids parents thought I was seriously disturbed. I know there were a few periods of time when Paige and Aimee at least weren’t allowed to play with me. Anyway, next time: My incredibly long epic, The Enemy Within, in which I kill the same character twice!

Jimmy Dearest, Part Two

Last time: Sarah Devens stumbled upon the body of her dead teacher, literally. She slipped in his gory blood and landed herself in the hospital.

Chapter 4

I awoke feeling different. As if a part of me were gone. That part of me that felt like it was missing was my left arm. Then I looked over at it.

I had been stabbed! [Where are the nurses?!]

As soon as I saw that, I started screaming bloody murder.

Then the doctors came in. Apariently I couldn’t have been stabbed that long before, because I had been stabbed in an artery. Then things got dim--like the previous day at school when I just happened to find Mr. Wain--and dimmer and dimmer.

Yet dimmer.

Dimmer.

Black.

* * * * *

I awoke again. But this time I was in my bedroom at home. Then I saw my mother. She was sitting at my desk.

“Mom,” I said.

“Honey,” she said in her annoying perky way. [If you hadn’t noticed, I didn’t like perky people.] “Your up. How do you feel?”

“Okay.”

“That’s good, I was worried sick. [Yeah, not showing up at the hospital in your daughter's time of need is exactly what shows how much you care.] Thank goodness your all right.”

“I’m fine. Where’s Jimmy?”

“He went to school today.”

“Great,” I said sarcastically. “what time is it?”

“It’s two “o” clock.”

“One more hour.”

“Sweetie.”

“Yeah mom.”

“How are you?”

“Didn’t you already ask that question.”

“Yes, but--”

“No buts about it. I’m tired. Leave!” I could tell my mother was definitatly hurt. But I didn’t care. Oh, no, I’m no going to become a softy. I’m sixteen. I can take care of myself.

* * * * *

Yes, it’s me again. I know your surprised. But it really is true. Sarah is sixteen. She kind of acts like a baby, but that‘s how it is. [At least I realized this as I wrote it.] I’m almost ashamed to have her as--sorry I keep rambling on on like that. It happens, sometimes, you know.

You might be wondering what I was about to say, but you’ll find out soon enough. All comes in due time. And again, I tell you, that I am not Sarah. I am simply telling you this through Sarah’s point of view. She is the story. Yet I am--I‘ll tell you later.

Sarah slept the rest of that day and half of the next. I will tell it to you now. . . . .

Chapter 5

Mourning.

I hate mourning--I prefer night.

If I awoke to peaceful sunlight streaming threw the window, birds singing peaceful beuatiful songs--I might like mourning better. I might have woken up in a good mood. But I didn’t.

Instead I wake up to hammering and chain saw churning, and all the normal sounds coming from the constructin site next door.

I hate Oregon, I thought. [It seems I had a bone to pick with Oregon. The gals from Dear Sister lived--and hated it--there, too. The closest I‘ve ever come to Oregon is Southern California when I was four.]

I hate the noise. I hate the polution. I hate the traffic. I hate everything.

I looked at my alarm clock to see what time it was.

Three-thirty.

Jimmy was home, I thought.

I grabed my phone off the reciever and dialed Jimmy’s number.

It rang three times before anyone picked it up.

“Hello,” said a deep male voice.

It was Jimmy.

“Hey Jimmo,” I said.

“Sarah, how ya doin?

“Fine. How are you?”

“Okay. How ya feelin?” [I don’t think he was supposed to be southern]

“Fine. I already said that.”

“I know that.”

“Really Jimmy, how do you hide all of your stupidity, and apear to be so smart?”

“What can I say, but the intelligence impaired know all.” [WTF?]

“You are so stupid.”

“Duh.”

“Duh yourself, you big wienie.”

“Oooo. I’m shakin’ in my cootie.”

“What?” [My sentiments exactly.]

“Listen Sarah, I gotta go.”

“But--”

He hung up before I could say anything. I hate him so much sometimes.

* * * * *

I went back to school three days later. Everyone asked me about the gory details of Mr. Wain’s body. I just told them where to shove it and walked off.

I found Jimmy waiting for me by my locker.

“What the hell do you want, Jimmy?”

“I just want to know how your doing. That’s all.”

“Nice. If you’ll excuse your unwanted presence, I’d like to get into my locker and go to class like a

[I’m pretty sure that’s where I ended it, because the rest of this page is so not my handwriting. I‘m guessing somebody continued on my story when they were passing around my notebook when they stole it from me, which could explain why I stopped working on it.]

normal kid, but apparently you don’t understand that.” I stormed off without going to my locker. “Jimmy is being such an asshole.” “And yet he is so handsome.” [I don’t remember calling Jimmy handsome. He was an “outcast,” which meant he probably wasn’t that great looking.]

“Sarah! Sarah!” My stubstate was calling my name. Some kids started snickering. That made me so angry that I was ready to smack each and every one of them.

Soon after school I saw the most popular girl in school. In class I noticed she was the one who snickered the most. So what I did was hide behind a bush jump out scare her and beat her up. It was so funny to see Miss Perfect with a black eye.” Sarah Johnson Devins

* * * * *

Yeah. That kind of killed the story for me. If you are indeed curious about this, the person doing the murders and hurting Sarah was Sarah’s twin sister Julie, but as we later find out Julie never existed. Sarah’s mom was originally expecting twins and she would’ve named the twin Julie. [So borrowed from The Perfume] So Sarah made up the personality of Julie, and it was her thinking she was Julie that was going around stabbing people. Ah, the clever plot twist. Anyways, it was Jimmy who found out her secret and finally got her help. But his “betrayal” is what sent Sarah truly over the deep end and made her believe she’d always been Julie, thus Julie is the other person telling the story. Yes, it’s convoluted. And this is only the beginning.

Next time: The Day of Rebecca, a play about a girl named Rebecca who kills somebody. Are we sensing a pattern here? Oh, and this one’s ACTUALLY FINISHED! I know you’re excited.

Jimmy Dearest, Part One

I found this little one sheet play tucked away inside my writing files, that was based on the people in my sixth grade elective art class, and chalk filled with inside jokes I absolutely don’t get now. I think I wrote it for their amusement, and I remember them being amused.

Scene 1

Corky: Well, we’re finally here. [I was Corky. I told my art teacher my name was Corky--Think R.L. Stine’s Fear Street Cheerleaders--and went by it for that 9 weeks period--My real name‘s Michelle. And Amanda told her teacher she was Kimmy. It was kind of awesome.]
Marina: Yippy yippy.
Corey: Great! These speedo’s are killing me.
Daniel: Well, why are you wearing them?
Corey: Well, why are you wearing a tootoo. [Yes, even as a former wannabe Princess Ballerina who explored the forests of Egypt, I didn’t know how to spell tutu.]
Daniel: Because I’m better than everybody else. I make the world a better place wherever I go.
Lindsey: Look what I brought.
Corky: An ax! I brought one too. See!
Marina: Wonderful! I brought one too.
Lindsey: Nice dress.
Marina: Thank you. I designed it myself.
Daniel: And I think I know where you got your design.
Marina: Funny!
(She punches him)
Corey: I think Marina’s in love--
(Then she punches him)
Lindsey: Well, let’s go find a place to set up camp.
Corky: Yeah let’s go.

Scene 2 (everybodies sitting around the kamp fire)

Corky: I brought something for everybody.
Lindsey: What did you bring?
Corky: Ketchup [There’s a story here.]
Daniel: Of course.
Corky: There for all of you, for good luck. Now let’s tell ghost stories. I’ll go first. Well a long time ago.

* * * * *

The end. Yeah, I don’t get it, either. If anybody wants to hear the embarrassing anecdote about the ketchup I’ll tell it. But anyways, onto bigger and better things.

My first horror story. Jimmy Dearest. This was “inspired” by Fear Street books such as Switched and the MTV cartoon The Maxx. In The Maxx there’s a character named Sarah who I was very taken with. She was a loser outcast with long dark hair and big thick glasses with only one friend and wanted to be a writer. Her father was dead and her mother was kind of a cook. I wonder why I related to her so well. *snort* But instead of Amanda she had Jimmy for her best friend. Sarah and Jimmy could have also been shades of the Sarah and Jimmy in Any Way the Wind Blows, which you’ll get to read eventually, you poor souls [And as you can clearly see, I liked the names Sarah and Jimmy.]. This was also my first time trying out 1st person narrative. I tried to write in the style of Fear Street, so be prepared for very short cliffhanger chapters.

Jimmy Dearest
Written May 1996
Age 11

Prologue

I am quite an ordinary girl. With ordinary brown hair and brown eyes. I’m no beuaty. But Jimmy thinks so. And that’s because Jimmy’s weird. I don’t have many friends. Jimmy’s my best friend. I guess because we’re both outcasts. From what I’ve said so far, you probably thinks this is the most boring thing in the world [Not after you’ve read The Tie That Binds]--But trust me, it’s not.

My story begins at about a year ago. About a girl, who’s name was Sarah. I will tell it to you now. . . .

Chapter 1

“Damn!”, I muttered. “I forgot my homework on the coffee table.”

“You’re going to be in deep shit, Sarah,” said Jimmy, “this is the third time this week. You really should do your homework more often, even I have it.” [Doesn’t he sound dreamy… And it seems I need to have at least one character in every story that is excessively profane.]

I hate it when he ridicules me like this. Does he really believe he’s so great? Why do I even have to ask myself that? The answers obvious of course. Yes.

“Well sorry O-great-and-powerful Jimmy,” I said sarcastically, “I guess no one could be as great as you.”

“I didn’t mean it that way Sarah,” he said apologeticaly. He really did sound sorry but I’m to smart for his stupid act. So, I just left him standing at my locker, and went to class. Strangely enough no one was in the classroom. [That’s a sure sign something’s wrong, right?]

[By the way, some dumb shit back in sixth grade stole my notebook and passed it around the class. They drew all over it and went through and with a black marker put a dot in every round letter, like a’s and o’s, which makes it really hard to read. Did I mention I was an outcast? I don’t know if I’ve yet made that clear.]

As I stepped in I noticed a red puddle on the floor, behind the desk. I walked over to see what it was. If I had known what was on the other side, I wouldn’t have looked, but it’s too late to change that.

I walked over, and then saw the most frightening scene any one could ever see in life.

Chapter 2

A corpse.

A bloody mess of organs and muscle, and tissue. A bloody mangled mess. I took a step back. Right into another puddle of blood. I slipped. Hit my head on the wall. Fell right on my but into another puddle of blood. But this time there was something squwishy in it. I couldn’t move. Things got dim. Dimmer. Still dimmer. Black. [Umm…yeah. I was clearly a mentally healthy preteen.]

Chapter 3

I woke up in a room I didn’t recognize. Jimmy was standing above me.

“Where am I?”, I choked out in a hoarse whisper.

“Your in the hospital,” he said to me. “That fall you had gave you a pretty nasty bump.”

“Who was that guy?”

“What guy?”

“The guy that died.” [What other guy could she mean?]

“That was Mr. Wain.”

“Omigod.”

“Yeah, and how did you get blood all over your ass?” [Because that was the only thing he was checking out.]

“I fell into blood?”

“Yeah.”

“Excuse me,” a voice said behind them us. [Still working on this first person thing]

“Yeah,” Jimmy said eagerly.

“It apears Miss Devens has only a minor cancussion,” he replied. I hate when doctors adress their patients as Miss or Mr. I really hate it.

“When will I be released,” I asked in a voice a little above a whisper.

“Tomorrow probably. Young man.”

“Yes,” Jimmy said once again.

“Visiting hours are over.”

“I’ll leave.”

And he left.

Left me all alone. [Where are her parents? She has a concussion and is being kept at the hospital. Shouldn‘t they be around somewhere?]

Then the doctor left. And turned of the light behind him.

Then I was alone in the darkness.

All alone.

It swallowed me up. Surrounding me at every angel.

I felt tired and hungry. And scared. There was something out there in the darkness. Something that was waiting for me to fall asleep. Something that wanted me.

Yet I still felt tired and hungry. The hunger I could ignore. But not the tiredness. I was so tired. I didn’t want to go to sleep. I was afraid of the thing in the darkness. I had never wanted Jimmy by me so much as I did then.

But in the end of this rediculas struggle I had, the other side won. . . .

* * * * *

I know, I know. It looks as though I’m Sarah, but trust me I’m not. This is just a story about an unfortunate girl. A very unfortunate girl. A very very very un-- Why am I doing that? I don’t know. Like people say I don’t know anything. I’m mindless. Brainless. Just there.

Well I must hurry, the hourglass runs low. [So lifted from Chain Letter 2] Movin’ on. The next mourning. . . . . .

* * * * *

Well, wasn’t that murderously marvelous! Who killed the teacher? How did he die exactly since he was so mutilated Sarah didn’t even recognize him? Who is this other person telling the story? Stay tuned for the next installment of Jimmy Dearest, where none of these questions are answered.

The Tie That Binds, Part Five

Last time Velvet was trying to make everyone paranoid of Paige and Fiona dreamed of Velvet's funeral. What will happen next, I wonder...

The Tie That Binds, Part 5

January 5, 1743

Fiona poked her head into Paige’s room. “Paige,” she called.

“Yes Fiona.”

“Where are you.”

“I’m in the closet.”

“Paige, I had the strangest dream last night.”

“What about?”

“You!”

“What about me?”

“Well everybody was in the sitting room except you. And Velvet looked really weird, she was the only one staring at the floor. I don’t know why she was, but she was! Ther was no snow, but there was a grave on the other side of the yard. So I went over there and read it!”

“What did it say?”

“Well, It said;

Paige Melinda Fostor
Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you.”

“Weird,” Paige said after a moment. “How did you know that my middle name is Melinda?” [Maybe because she’s your sister?]

“I don’t know.”

[Almost completely dialogue. Yeah, I was getting bored with this story, all right. I’m surprised I made it this far.]

* * * * *

Velvet walked up to the stars and down the hall to Paige’s room. “Hellow you two, what are you talking about?”

“Fiona was just telling me about a dream she had of me dying and seeing my grave!” [That's a conversation starter.]

“Really,” she paused a moment. “And did the headstone say;

Paige Melinda Fostor

Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you.”
[I think I wrote this over and over]
[because it took up space]
[and made the story look longer]
[than it actually was]
[And if you think this is bad]
[Just wait till we get to]
[The Enemy Within]

“Yeah,” Paige and Fiona said at the same time after a horrified silence.

“How did you know?” Fiona asked.

“I had the same dream.”

“When?”

“Two nights ago.”

“Weird.”

“Very.” [It’s not just weird, you dumb asses! If two people had dreams about my funeral I would be fricken paranoid as hell!]

* * * * *

At dinner the three girls sat uneasily at the table.

“Is there anything wrong,” Hesta asked her daughters worriedly.

“No mother,” Fiona answered. [The #1 rule for writing YA Lit, teens NEVER go to their parents when they have a problem.]

“I was thinking,” said Paige.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” said fifteen year old Jonathan, the youngest. [Boy, they sure popped those kids out fast… And didn’t Jonathan come across as much younger at the “picknick?”]

“Be quiet Jonathan,” said Fiona. “Paige was talking.”

“Well anyway, I was thinking mabey me, Fiona, and Velvet could all go to town again soon.”

“Well, Paige, as soon as the snow is gone you can go. [But Velvet walks an hour and a half to the Danner’s in the snow and no one gives a fuck? No wonder she wants to kill everyone!] And you’re not going to abandin each other next time,” there father said staring at Velvet and Fiona across the table.

They both sank low in their seats. “We’re sorry mother,” and sank low in their seats. [New worst written paragraph yet! And weren’t they talking to their father?]

“May I be excused,” Velvet asked.

“Yes you may,” Edward said.

Velvet pushed her chair out, stood up, and left the room. Everyone was eating in silence a while after that.

Then Edward spoke. “That reminds me. I need to get to town before it gets too late.”

“Why father,” Paige asked somewhat interested.

“I need to buy some more wood Paige.” [Because apparently Paige didn’t buy enough.]

“May I go with you.”

“No, you may not.”

“But why, father?”

“Becaust it is getting dark out, and it is very cold.”

“But I want to go.”

“Paige, I said no.”

“Paige, I. . . . Uhh. . . . Have something to show you in my. . . Ahh. . . Room,” Fiona said. [Subtle.]

“I don’t want to see what you have to show me Fiona.”

“Paige, just go see what your sister wants to--.”

“Stop all the fighting. I cannot take all the fighting,” Hest screamed.

“But I want to go to town,” Paige yelled. [I can only hope I didn’t actually act like this.]

“I said no, Paige,” Edward said trying to control his anger.

“Paige, just come on,” Fiona said grabbing her sisters arm and trying to drag her out of the room.

“Stop it! Shut up! All of you,” Hesta screamed.

“I don’t want to shut up, Hesta,” Edward screamed at his wife. [No wonder their children are such bitches]

“Mother, Father, Paige! Please, can’t we all just get along,” Fiona screamed. She was usually the one who was always in control of herself. But not at this fight.

“May I be excused.” They all turned to stare at Jonathan. [Single sane person in the entire story.]

They were all staring at Jonathan until Velvet came back into the room. “What is going on,” she asked.

“Nothing, I will be going now,” Father answered.

“Where?”

“To get some wood.”

As he left, everyone else stood in an uneasy silence.

I’m going to my room,” Velvet said.

* * * * *

January 6, 1743

“Vivian, are we going to do today,” Evet asked.

“We, are not doing a thing! “I’m, going for a walk! You, are staying here!”

“But why?”

“Because I said so!”

* * * * *

“As she was walking threw the woods, she noticed a strange animal in her path. What could it be, she wandered out loud--”

Her story [I guess she was reading???] was interrupted by a loud knocking on her door. “Who’s there,” she called out.

Now one answered. Frustrated, she got up and opened the door.

“Velvet, why didn’t you answer me? Velvet! Speak!”

“Fiona, we are in terrible trouble!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Paige!”

“What about Paige?”

“She’s dangerous, Fiona. Very dangerous!”

“Get out of my room, Velvet. Get out, and stay out.”

* * * * *

“Aunt Marlo,” Evet said inocently.

“Yes Evet,” she replied.

“Vivian was being mean to me.”

“Again?”

“The little girl nodded her head yes.

“Well, I’ll have to have a talk with that girl.”

Evet just kept looking at her aunt strangely as she played with her long red hair that was so much like her own. [For my life I can’t remember what Evet had to do with the story at all.]

* * * * *

Adi was walking threw the woods as he noticed a pretty red head. As he aproached the strange girl, he senced something about her. Something different from other girls. Something strange. Something Evil.

“Who are you,” he asked when he aproached her. [He’s either brave or stupid, considering that she’s “Evil.”]

“I might ask you the same thing,” she snapped.

“My name’s Adi,” he told the girl. [Adi never had a last name.] “What might yours be?”

“It just might be Evet,” she said playing with ha strand of her long red curly hair. “But it’s not. It’s Vivian Danner,” she said.

“That’s a nice name,” he replied to Vivian.

“No it’s not. I hate the name.” [You sure know how to attract a guy, Viv.]

The were silent for a couple of moments. “I’d bett go,” she replied and took of.

He watched as she took off. She was a nice girl, [I thought she was “Evil”] but he liked the girl he saw the other day better. If only he could see her again.. . . . .

* * * * *

The day went by slowly for Velvet. She had absolutely nothing to do. [What about chores?] Earlier that day she gave a so-called warning to Fiona about Paige. Fiona kicked her out of her room. Mostly because she was starting to scare her. After that she was walking down the hall and she wasn’t paying any attention to what she was doing, that when she got to the stairs she slipped and fell all the rest of the way down.

A little while after that her father told her they were getting another servent. It wasn’t exactly thrilling to get a new servent. They got them all the time. They all quit and came to work for them all the time.

After that Velvet went outside. Very unaware that she had no shoes on and that there was still half a foot of snow on the ground. [WTF?] She got frostbite a bit badly. And then there was lunch.

Paige made it her treat of course. She made oatmeal mixed with a bunch of spices. And it was also very hot, and, she spilled it all over herself. [Not on her black dress!] And it hurt like hell. But now she was Justin sitting in the sitting room very bored.

Then there was a short knock on the door and then Vivian stepped in. She always did that.

“Velvet, your sister told me what happened to you today!” She did say it sincerely, but Velvet could tell she was trying very hard to contain her laughter.

“Just go ahead and do it Vivian.”

“Do what?”

“Laugh.”

“What makes you think I want to laugh?”

“Well first-of-all, I fall down the stairs and land on my head. [And she didn’t hurt herself?] Second-of-all, I go outside in my barefeet without realizing there was a half a foot of snow on the ground. And third-of-all, I spill hot oatmeal all over myself! Why wouldn’t anyone want to laugh about that?”

“Okay, Okay, I give in! It’s hilarious! I’ve never heard anything so funny in my life!”

“Ha, ha, ha.”

“Oh, Velvet, guess what?”

“What?”

“I met a boy in the woods.”

“Wonderful. What did he say? Did he ask you to marry him?”

“You don’t have to be so sarcastic.”

“Yes I do.”

The two were silent for a moment. Then Velvet spoke.

“Did you find out what his name is?”

“Yeah. It’s Adi.”

* * * * *

Fiona walked by the doorway of the sitting room just in time to hear the last thing Vivian said.

Adi, she thought. The guy I met in the woods. “Well I’m not going to let her have him so easily,” she murmered out loud.

* * * * *

And that’s as far as I got. Finally, merciful God, it’s over! All I remember about my original plan for this story is it was supposed to go through every day for the entire year and almost everyone in the storty died. Velvet was the murderer, and how they pinned her to the murders, was her black velvet ribbon she always wore in her hair was found at a crime scene, thusbeing the tie that binds her to the murders. I was just cool like that. ^_^

Next time: I bring to you my New Years Resolutions.

The Tie That Binds, Part Four

Last time Fiona was tormented by nightmares and Vivian counted the clouds. This story's so boring I'm posting the next two days! w00t!

January 3, 1743

“Great I’m out here again. I might as well count all the damned clouds. One damn cloud. Two damn clouds. Three damn clouds. Four damn clouds. Five damn clouds.” If only Velvet could see me now, she thought. “I wonder why it didn’t snow yesterday. Dam it’s windy out here.” [Why are you counting clouds? Better yet, why are you out at dawn every morning?]

She pushed a piece of red hair out of her face. Then the snow began to fall. “I spoke to soon,” said Vivian Danner.

* * * * *

“It’s snowing like it’s never snowed before,” said Hesta Fostor.

“Mother, it always snows like that,” said Velvet.

Hesta looked at her daughter sadly. Velvet was a true beauty, but had very bad manners. Velvet was such a negative girl. She was always dressed in black for some reason. Hesta didn’t know why. [Because she’s Goth.]

* * * * *

Several hours later the snow was about a foot deep. And everywhere till the eye can see was white. “It’s beautiful,” said Paige as she looked threw Fiona’s bedroom window.

“It sure is,” she said. Why doesn’t she just leave, Fiona thought.

“It’s so dark out I wonder what time it is,” said Paige.

“Yeah, me too,” Fiona agreed.

“Hello people,” said a voice from the doorway.

Fiona knew emiediately it was Velvet. She looked beautiful in her black dress with lacing at the coller.

“I’m going to my room now,” Paige said.

When Paige left, Velvet hurried over and sat on the bed. “Fiona,” she whispered in a horse voice, “have you noticed anything strange about Paige lately.”

“No, why?”

“Because I think she’s plotting against us.”

“Where did you get an idea like that?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a gut feeling. But Fiona, Paige is dangerous.”

“How can she be dangerous?”

“Because she is.”

She is very scary, Fiona thought. [Paranoid, maybe. But scary?]

“Be careful Fiona, Paige is very dangerous. We have no way of knowing what she might do next.” With that, she stood up and walked out fo the room. Her hair--down for once--flowing gently behind her.

“Velvet is very scary,” Fiona murmered out loud, “very scary indeed.”

* * * * *

“It is so dark outside,” muttered Paige. “Why does it always have to be so dark when it snows? Why do I always have to talk to myself? Why do I always ask myself questions? I don’t know. I just don’t know.” [I don’t even need to snark Paige, do I?]

As she fingered her long black hair she went over her past in her head for some reason. [And what is this past?]

* * * * *

“More damn clouds. That’s all we need, more damn clouds.” Vivian Danner was a very negative person. “I hate these clouds.” [And I hate you. Why are you in this story?]

* * * * *

It had been two days since he had had his encounter with the mysterious girl. But still, he--Adi--could not get her out of his head. She had barely said anything to him. She just studdered. “I really wish I could see her again.” [Perhaps he thinks she’s mentally challenged, and therefore, “easy.”]

* * * * *

“Damn, damn, damn, damn clouds. I really hate these damned clouds.”

* * * * *

“It is so boring, so so so so boring,” Velvet kept muttering to herself. [So is this story.] She kept on muttering that to herself until she fell into an uneasy sleep.

In her dream she was in the sitting room. Everyone she knew was dressed in black. Every was there except Paige.

Where’s Paige, she thought.

Then Fiona answered her question. “Poor Paige, poor Paige. To die that way. Murdered.” Then she started crying.

I have to get out of here, she thought in her dream. Then she tood up and ran outside. Her long blond hair tied in a black velvet ribbin. [Plot point!]

When she was outside she saw there was no snow, but there was a closed casket on the other side of the lawn. She ran right over to it. She saw the place where they aparently planned to bairy the casket. At the head of the grave she saw the headstone.

She read it;

Paige Melinda Fostor
Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you

She walked away from the grave and faced the casket. “Paige can’t be dead,” she murmered out loud. Then she pulled open the coffin lid and peered inside.

“Noooo. . . .” she screamed when she saw her sister’s body. There was dry blood all over her neck. Her eyes had already sank into her head.

Velvet woke up and sat up in bed. She stood up and walked over to the window. It was nighttime. Everyone was probably already asleep. She walked away from the window and out of the room. She walked down the hall to Paiges room. Then stepped inside. Her sister was sound asleep. She went back out into the hall and back to her room.

* * * * *

January 4, 1743

“It is such a lovely day today,” said Fiona as she stepped into the sitting room.

“It sure is,” said Paige.

“Paige, why don’t you go upstairs and get dressed so we can go outside.” [in the blizzard.]

“That is a marvelous idea. I’ll go up there right now and get dressed.

Then she went up the stairs and down the hall to her room. Before she got to her room she noticed someone in the shadows staring at her. Who is that, Paige thought. Then Velvet stepped out of the shadows.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Velvet?”

“No reason,” Velvet answered quite quickly. Then Velvet walked up to her and said. “Be very careful Paige. Very careful.” Then turned around and went to her room.

Velvet is a scary girl, she thought. “Very scary girl.”

* * * * *

When Paige was dressed and ready she went downstairs. “Fiona,” she said.

“Yes, Paige.”

“Have you noticed anything strange about Velvet lately?”

“NO, not really. Why do you ask?”

“Oh. . . . . Uhh. . . . No reason!”

“Well then, let’s go outside then.”

* * * * *

“I am bored. Very, very, very, very, bored. Can’t something exciting ever happen,” Vivian Danner kept mumbling to herself.

“Vivian, I want to do something,” said Vivian’s three year old cousin Evet Danner. [again, Evet=Yvette]

“Evet, there is nothing to freeken do. No why don’t you just shut your little damn mouth and go to your room!”

Startled by the scolding tone, Evet starting screaming. “Ahhhhhhhh. . . . . . . “

“Evet, be a good girl. Plese don’t cry. Ummm. . . I’ll read you a story. I’ll do almost anything.” [I kind of wish she’d sell her soul to the devil to make the kid shut up. It would make this story more interesting. You‘d think it would be more interesting, considering it‘s supposed to be about witchcraft...]

“Ahhhhh. . . .”

“Please shut up before you wake up mother and father.”

“Ahhhhhhh. . . . . .“

“Vivian what is all that noise out there,” asked her mother, Marlo Danner.

“Nothing mom,” she answered her mother.

“Are you sure,” her mother asked, “You haven’t been yelling at Evet again, have you?”

“No!”

* * * * *

As Velvet was walking down the stairs to go outside she was struggling in trying to keep all her blonde hair in a bun. “I hate my damn hair. I really hate it. I really really reall--”

“Velvet,” said her mother Hesta. “What are you doing.”

“I’m. . . . . uhhhhh. . . . . . Going outside. Bye.” Then she did go outside. As she was walking across the yard to the spot Fiona and Paige were she noticed they were in the exact place the grave and casket were in her dream. Weird, she thought. Mabey it means something. No it can’t mean anything. . . . Or mabey it does.

* * * * *

“It is so much fun out here,” said Paige.

“Yes I know. There hasn’t been this mash snow since. . . . God knows when.”

“That is true. Fiona!”

“What?”

“It’s Velvet, she’s staring at me again.”

“Sooo. . . . What’s the big deal? I mean Velvets an odd girl. She is always staring at people.” [They all know Velvet's a freak.]

“I know. But, she’s scaring me. I don’t like it when she does that.”

“Velvet, come over here,” screamed Fiona.

Velvet and Fiona, thought Paige. I should have known. They don’t want to be around me. I mean, Fiona is eighteen and Velvet is seventeen--

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard her sister say, “Velvet, hurry up!”

* * * * *

Why is Paige looking at me like that? Velvet thought uneasily, and why does Fiona keep screaming at me. I might as well go over there. [This is starting to get a bit redundant. Okay, MORE redundant.]

As she was walking over there she noticed that the snow was not at all as deep as she thought it was. “Hi Fiona. Hi Paige. What are you two doing,” she asked.

“We’re just standing and talking,” Paige answered tirely. [That’s not a word.]

“It’s kind of cold out here,” Velvet said acnowlnging [Even if that IS supposed to be acknowledging it still doesn’t work at all right here.] the fact that it wasn’t cold, but stand right there was giving her the creeps.

“I isn’t cold out here Velet,” said Fiona who had just been standing there, aparently lost in thought. [There’s snow on the ground. It’s cold.] “Mabey you’re sick.”

“I don’t think so. I’m going over to the Danner’s house.”

“Bye,” Fiona and Paige said at the same time.

* * * * *

“So many damn clouds. So, so, so, so, many damn clouds,” Vivan was repeating the phrase over and over again. [Inspiration a bit dry?]

“Vivian, I want to do something,” said Evet. Evet had long red hair and dark blue eyes, just like her cousin.

“You want to do something. I know what you can do! Go to hell!”

* * * * *

Velvet walked up to the Danner’s house just in time to her Vivian yell go to hell to her cousin. Velvet aproached the door slowly and tapped on the door. She waited a moment, then a figure apeared in the window, then Vivian opened the door. [That’s the worst written paragraph yet!]

“Oh hi Velvet. What brings you here?”

“I was just in the neiborhood. You know what, I had the strangest dream last night!”

* * * * *

When Velvet got back to the house that night, everybody was asleep. So she quietly climbed the stairs and went to her room.

* * * * *

She was in the sitting room. Everybody except Paige was there dressed in black and weeping. Except Velvet she just sat on the chair and stared at the floor. I wonder what she’s thinking about, thought Fiona.

Fiona didn’t want to stay there. It was scaring her the way everybody was. She got up and walked outside. “Hmmmm, no snow.”

She noticed a casket and an already prepared grave on the other side of the yard. Fiona really wanted to find out what was going on. Then she walked over to the grave with the headstone.

She gasped as she read it:

Paige Melinda Fostor
Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you

Fiona woke up right away and sat up in bed. “What a horible nightmare. Another horrible nightmare. I hate these nightmares so much. So much.”

* * * * *

It is so boring this time of morning night. So very very boring.”

* * * * *

I was telling my mother how awful this story is and she replied, “And you wondered why I never wanted to read your stories.” Mean mother. Anywho, next time: the final installment of The Tie That Binds! I would say it’s the thrilling conclusion but I would be lying. There is a nice argument though. ^_^

The Tie That Binds, Part Three

The Tie That Binds, Part 3

Last time: Velvet and Paige had a fight because Velvet and Fiona ditched her bitch ass back in town. The parents yelled at Velvet and Fiona took a walk into the mysterious woods and met an even more mysterious man. I wonder what clever plot twist will happen next. The suspense is killing me!

January 2, 1743

“Mourning already,” Paige mumbled half asleep. Then she sat up and noticed it was still dark outside.

* * * * *

She was outside, she didn’t know why. She saw Vivian Danner screaming, standing over the dead bloody body of Adi. Fiona woke up screaming. Then Paige ran into the room.

“Fiona, what’s wrong,” she asked.

“Nothing, just a nightmare,” she said.

“It’s okay Fiona, it’s okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” said Paige. “Nothing at all.”

And how wrong she was. [Oooh, foreshadowing.]

* * * * *

When Paige left, Fiona got out of bead and over to her dresser where she kept all of her belongings. Then she noticed something. Her dresser was a mess. And that the only person whos been in there, was Velvet.

* * * * *

It was a little before dawn, but Adi didn’t care. He loved it outside before dawn. He looked up at the sky and noticed some clouds. “Snow clouds,” he mumbled to himself. There was going to be a blizzard, he new it! Better get inside before it starts, he thought.

* * * * *

“One damn clouds, two damn clouds, three damn clouds.” I really am pathetic, she thought, standing out here staring at and counting all the damned clouds. “I better get inside before it snows.” [I think I was starting to run out of ideas.]

* * * * *

Velvet was outside, in the middle of the woods the sun had been up for a while now. It felt as if it wer ten a.m. [Because she’s psychic like that.] “I really should go home now. I’ve been out here for five hourse,” she mumbled to herself. [There’s a lot of mumbling going on in this chapter.] Then she turned around and headed home.

* * * * *

It was ten-thirty wen she got home. Everyone was sitting down to breakfast when she walked into the sitting room. [They have a very late breakfast for a family of farmers.] “Hello every body, I’m home,” she said.

“Velvet, where have you been,” asked mother.

“Out,” was her simple reply.

“Velvet, whould you like some delicious breakfast,” asked Paige. “It is my specialty.” [I’m really wanting to smack Paige. They so need to do meaner things to her.]

“No thank you. I’m going over to the Danners,” said Velvet. Then she turned and left. [What was the point of even going home?]

* * * * *

About an hour and a half later she arrived at Vivan Danners. She knocked on the door lightly. A minute later Vivian opened the door.

“Why, hello Velvet,” she said. “What brings you here?”

“I was just in the nieborhood and felt like dropping by,” said Velvet. [Yes, “in the nieborhood” is an hour and half away.]

“Well com in,” said Vivian.

“Well Vivan,” said Velvet. “How the hell is everything.

“You won’t belive this,” Vivan said, “think mourning I was outside, and I was counting all the damn clouds.”

“How stupid,” Velvet said sarcastically.

* * * * *

Dear Diary,

I really think somethings really wrong with Velvet. She has been acting so weird lately. I don’t know what to do, because, well, you know Velvets a difficult person. She’s scary.

Sincerely yours,
Fiona

[It seems Fiona actually writes letters to her diary.]

* * * * *

It was very late that night and Paige could here all the sounds Fiona was making in the room next to Paige’s. [Sounds naughty.] She kept screaming over and over again.

Why does she keep screaming Paige thought. [And why does no one else care?] “I’m going over there to find out. I wonder why everybody else can sleep.” [Me, too, Paige. Me, too.]

* * * * *

She was outside running threw the woods. She was so scared. “Where am I? How did I get here,” Fiona murmered out loud. Suddenly she knew where she was. Fiona was in a place her mother had always told her not to come. She remembered one time when she was eight. Her and Velvet were out in the woods. Velvet said she was coming here and that no one could stop her. Fiona never knew if Velvet ever came here or not, but Velvet did come running out of the woods screaming that there was a monster chasing her.

Then she started screaming once she noticed the dead body of her sister Paige.

* * * * *

“Fiona, wake up,” Paige said.

“Paige, what are you doing here,” Fiona asked her.

“You were having a nightmare, Fiona. Just a nightmare,” Paige said.

Then Fiona said “it had better be.

* * * * *

Next time: Vivian counts more clouds, Velvet has a prophetic dream and starts to put her evil plan into motion.

The Tie That Binds, Part Two

Okay, so I said The Dollhouse Murders. I know. I found the book and brought it to my house. I was hardly ever there and never got around to reading it so I brought it to my mother's. My mother swears she saw it somewhere but can't remember where. Fred (father-type-person) said he put it in his box with the shirts I got him for Christmas so crazy cat Splinter wouldn't mess it up. Then took the box to work to show to his friends (I gave him ones that have funny sayings on them) and left said box at work. So I'm screwed right now. And I compensate with more of the titillating tale of the Fostor sisters. Lousy trade, I know. But anyway. . .

Last time Fiona and Velvet left their hated little sister in town and had a picnic. And Paige has just come home and seen. Oooh, I wonder what's going to happen next!

The Tie That Binds, Part Two

“Fiona, I thought you said Paige wasn’t coming on the picknick,” said Jonathan. Velvet was the next to notice Paige staring at them in fury wearing her powder pink laced dress.

“Fiona,“ said Velvet, “Paige is here.”

“What is she doing here, I thought we left her in town,” demanded Fiona. [Like she wouldn‘t come home eventually.]

“I do not know,” said Velvet.

Then Paige came running toward them, screaming “Why did you leave me in town?”, she demanded over and over again. She was really angry. [No shit. I would be, too.] When she got up to them, her face was red. “I know what you two are up to. Just because I am the youngest, [Umm, Paige, Jonathan's the youngest.] and the prettiest, does not mean you can desert me and leave me in town while you guys come home and have a picknick,” yelled Paige. “You two are just jelous.” [They probably are.]

Suddenly Velvet started laughing. She could not help herself. “Jelous,” she screamed still laughing, “of you.” She was still laughing.

Then Paiges look showed more than anger. Paige ran at her at full speed. Then the two girls were tumbling in the dead leaves pulling each others hair, screaming.

* * * * *

“What is going on out there,” said Hesta Foster, her dark green eyes wide with worry.

“I do not know darling” said Edward. “I will go check.”

* * * * *

“Girls, what are you doing,” demanded father.

Fiona watched as her father pulled Paige and Velvet apart. Her mother screaming at them to stop fighting. As Fiona walked off into the woods, the cries of her sisters and mother became softer and softer the father she went. It’s strangely quiet out here, she thought. Things are always strangely quiet in the woods. Once when she was ten, her, Velvet, and Paige used to play hide-and-go-seek in this part of the forest. “Things are so nice and quiet out here,” she mumbled to herself. Then she heard something.

Footsteps! She heard footsteps. Then she knew she wasn’t alone.

* * * * *

“Paige, Velvet, what is the meaning of this,” asked mother.

“Velvet and Fiona left me in town mother,” said Paige.

“Speaking of Fiona, where is she,” said father.

She probably ran away so she wouldn’t get into trouble, thought Paige miserably.

“Velvet. Why did you and Fiona leave Paige in town?”

She is trying to be patient with her, thought Paige. It is impossible--. . . . .

Her thoughts were cut short by Velvet when she jumped up and said, “She is fifteen years old. Me and Fiona do not have to babysit her any more.”

For a minute everybody stood in silence. Then the silence was cracked when Velvet said, “I’m going to my room now.”

“I will go start supper,” Paige volunteered. [Suck up.]

* * * * *

“Who’s there,” Fiona said in a horse whisper. Then the most handsom man she had ever seen stepped out in front of her. “Who are you,” she asked in a voice a little above a whisper.

“My name’s Adi,” he said. “What’s yours?” [Pronounced Uh-dee. Named after “the most handsom guy in school” of course.]

“Mine,” she said.

“Yeah, yourse,” said Adi.

“Umm, I don’t know,” she said wonder what her name was. [My, he must think she’s intelligent.]

“You don’t know your own name,” Adi said.

“I ought to go home now. My, my, my mother doesn’t like me too. . . . uhh. . . . do stuff with strangers. [I’m sure she doesn’t. *wink*] Bye,” she said. She turned around and headed home.

* * * * *

By the time Fiona got back home it was very late. It’s very late, she thought. I’m in trouble. Then she saw a figure in the darkness. “Who’s there,” she said.

“Me,” was the reply.

Fiona recognized the voice at once. It was Velvet. “Hello, Velvet, shouldn’t you be in bed,” Fiona said.

“I’m seventeen. I may do what I please,” Velvet said in a very low voice. “Mother and Father would like to speak to you Fiona.”

“Why,” she asked.

“I’m going outside now. [I’m taking a wild guess and thinking she called into the house where she was going, though it sounded like she was already outside… I don’t know. I’m confused.] Fiona, where were you.”

“I was just on a walk threw the woods,” said Fiona.

“Okay,” came Velvets horse reply. Then she steped outside into the dark night.

* * * * *

“Mother, Father,” said Fiona. “Velvet said you wanted to speak with me.” Then Fiona saw that they were already asleep. They probably were tired of waiting for me, she thought. [What caring parents…] Then she headed down the hall to her own bedroom.

* * * * *

And that’s all for January 1st. It got marginally more interesting. Next time on The Tie That Binds: Diary entries, bad dreams, and Vivian counts the clouds.

By the way, does anyone know how to do strikethough on here?

The Tie That Binds, Part One

Before I post The Dollhouse Murders I wanted to find a picture of the dollhouse I had when I was a kid, in which I would actually act out The Dollhouse Murders, but my mother has hidden her photographs. Till then, I thought I would post the first installment from my masterpiece of sixth grade, The Tie That Binds, a period piece detailing the lives of the Fostor family. Prepare to be bored. I've never read over it for a reason.

The Tie That Binds, Part 1
Written February 1996
Age 11

Characters: Fiona, Velvet, Paige, Jonathan, Edward, Hesta, Adi, Evet, Marlo [I used to write out the names of all the characters in the story on the first page. I should probably add that this is majorly inspired by The Fear Street Saga, the part in the Burning that deals with Simon and Angelica Fear’s children in particular. That was also the extent of my knowledge of what life was like in the 18th century.]

January 1st 1743

[This was all in one gigantic paragraph but I have mercifully broken it up for you. Be grateful.]

“But Father, must Paige really come to town with me and Velvet today,” complained Fiona Fostor.

“Fiona, spend some time with Paige,” said her father, Edward Fostor. “She is your sister.”

Fiona was quite pretty, she had long light brown hair and dark blue eyes.

Then Velvet Fostor came hopping down the stairs smiling gleefully. [That sounds graceful.] “Why Fiona sister, let Paigey poo come to town with us. Mabey [It took me many years to master the word “maybe."] we will have some fun,” said Velvet. Velvet had long blonde hair the color of spun gold, and dark green eyes. Catlike eyes! “Paige,” she called up the stairs, “me and Fiona are ready to go now. Hurry up!”

“Fiona, you should really put on another overcoat. It is quite cold out,” said Edward.

Then Paige came down the stairs. She looked lovely in a powdder pink satin dress with lacing on the coller. Her beautiful black hair tied in a bun held in by white, pink, and yellow flowers. “Hi everybody, I’m ready to go to town now,” said Paige in a very repulsing sweet voice. “Fiona, Velvet, thank you for letting me go to town with the two of you. I even dressed extra specially,” she said in her repulsive voice. [In case you were wondering we’re not supposed to like Paige. Which is why I spent so much time describing her outfit and hair. In later versions Paige is blond and Velvet’s the one with black hair. *shrug* Yeah, I rewrote this. A couple of times.]

Why does she always have to be so perky, thought Fiona, it drives me crazey.

“Fiona,” said Velvet, “I’ll go get your overcoat from upstairs.”

“Okay Velvet, said Fiona.

* * * * *

Where does she keep her diary, wondered Velvet. “Hmmm, the hell with this,” muttered Velvet. “I’d better get downstairs before they start wondering what I’m doing.” She walked over to the closet, and got out Fiona’s Blue overcoat. Then she ran out of the room and down the stairs. [Wait, was she looking for Fiona’s diary? I thought it was Paige they didn’t like.]

“Here you go Fiona,” said Velvet.

“Why thank you Velvet,” she said.

“Come on girls, what are three whealthy young women doing just hanging around. Let’s go to town now,” said Paige. [I hate her.]

Why does she just have to be so damn perky. “Well lets go,” said Velvet. [She sounds more like a snob than perky.]

* * * * *

About twenty minutes later they were at town square.

“Well, what are you two planning to get from town?,” asked Paige.

“I don’t know,” said Fiona, “mabey some apple cider.”

“I think I’m going to get a black satin dress,” said Velvet. [Because they so sold them in stores back then.]

“Don’t you have enough of them Velvet,” said Paige sarcastically. [Oh my, is Velvet Goth?]

I bet Paige is planning to get something to help father out. That’s so like her, though Fiona. [And that’s a bad thing? Besides, with three bitchy teenage daughters I‘m sure he needs all the help he can get.] “So Paige, what are you planning to get?” asked Fiona.

“I think I will get some wood for father,” said Paige. [I’m sure you’ll be able to carry plenty wood by yourself in your powdder pink satin dress.]

Of course, thought Fiona sarcastically.

“Well Paige,” said Velvet, “why don’t you head off and get that wood for father, and we will all meet back here in about thirty minutes. Okay.”

“Okay,” Fiona and Paige said in unision, [I remember being so proud using a spelling word…that I misspelled. I wonder if I passed that test.] and they all headed to where they planned to go.

* * * * *

About twenty minutes later Fiona and Velvet were in town square. Fiona had her apple cider in her hand and Velvet had her satin dress draped around her left arm.

“Velvet, do you think Paige will be here soon?”, asked Fiona.

“No,” said Velvet. “Fiona, I’ve got a wonderful idea,” said Velvet.

“What?” asked Fiona.

We just walk on home and leave Paige behind,” said Velvet.

“Good idea,” said Fiona.

[They’re just so deliciously evil, aren’t they?]

* * * * *

Where are they, wondered Paige, kicking up dust as she walked back and forth. “Ive been waiting here for an hour. I give up I’m just going back home.” She stopped and picked up the wood and headed home. She was aproching the house when she heard something. Something from the backyard.

Giggling! [Oh no! Not giggling! Anything but that!]

She heard giggling from the backyard. Familiar giggling. Velvet and Fiona’s giggling. She dropped the wood and into the backyard she ran. She stood in shock as she saw her brother and her sisters having a picknick. [Oh God no! Not a picnic!]

* * * * *

That’s it for now, because I just can’t take anymore. That’s only to page 5. There’s 37 pages of this crap. Next time: A catfight! No, not with actual cats.

Berkeley Manor and the Epilogue that Never Was

Well, unfortunately Berkeley Manor turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. I only had two pages written front and back. Since I had the whole story planned out (in my head at least) I was sure I had more written. Oh well. But this one does come with some nifty character profiles so you can get to know them all even though most of them never appear in what I have written.

Lora Marlow - Born 1950. Is 25. Blond hair, blue eyes, tan. Abbie’s aunt and one of her only living relatives. She is a nurse at Benson Berkeley Memorial.

Abbie Marlow - Born 1963. Is 12, and 32. Brown hair, brown eyes, tan. Wears glasses. Lora’s niece. She is in seventh grade and doesn’t like it when Lora goes to work at Berkeley Manor taking care of Wentworth Berkeley.

Wentworth Berkeley - Born 1902. Is 73. White hair, blue eyes. Grandfather of Adam and Nicole. And old, ill man whom Lora has been sent to care for.

Adam Berkeley - Born 1968. Is 7, and 27. Blond hair, green eyes, pale. Grandson of Wentworth Berkeley. He is a genius. While Lora is staying with them he falls in love with her.

Nicole Berkeley - Born 1972. Is 3, and 23. Brown hair, green eyes, pale. Granddaughter of Wentworth Berkeley. Younger sister of Adam, and first test subject.

Berkeley Manor
Written the summer of 1996
Age 11

Laura [If you hadn’t already you will soon learn I am very inconsistent about the spellings of my characters names.] Marlow walked down the crowded hall of the hospital to the nurses station.

“Hello Ms. Marlow,” said a deep stern voice behind her. She turned around to see the angry face of Marla Dane.

“Hi, Miss Dane,” she said in a nervous voice. “What brings you down here to the children’s floor?” [Maybe the fact that she works there?] As if I didn’t already know? she thought bitterly.

“I think you could use a different background to be in all day, instead of this dreary hospital,” Miss Dane said sternly. She was a forty-one year old woman who was as stern as stern could be. [Obviously since it’s the only adjective that describes her.] In fact all her hare was already gray from stress. And her dark grey eyes matched the color perfectly.

“I don’t understand,” Laura said in a quiet voice.

“You know the mansion on top of the hill that overlooks the ocean?” [This has bad Gothic Romance written all over it.]

“Yes. That’s the old Creton place.” [Holy hotpants, Batman! This wasn’t even originally called Berkeley Manor! Creton definitely sound creepy but I like Berkeley better since, you know, that’s what I thought the name of this story was for the past 10+ years.]

“Yes. Benson Creton [Wentworth Berkeley…] owns the place. He is very ill right now, and he needs a personal assistant. And I thought--”

“You thought I would do it,” she finished the sentence for her.

“Why, yes, I was chosen to do it, but I can’t.” [So you pawn it off on the young ones Miss Dane!] “I have to go to England for my sister Margaret’s wedding.” She paused for a few moments. “So will you do it.”

“Sure,” Laura said. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, she thought.

“You will be going there tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. Is that clear?”

“Yes Miss Dane.”

“You will be staying there to assist him, and to tend to his grandchildren. Nicole and Mathew.” [Holy fuck! Adam wasn’t even Adam. Mathew? I am in shock right now people.] “Nicole is only 2, so she will be there all the time. But Mathew is 6 and has been skipped to third grade. So he will be leaving for school at 8:45. But sure to remember that the bus picks him up and that if he is sick, you must alert the school immediatly. All right.” [Shouldn’t you have told her all this before she agreed?]

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, good. Remember to be on time.”

“Yes, Miss Dane.”

* * * * * *

When Laura got home she found her twelve year old neice--Abbie--waiting in the dining room with a meal.

“Abbie, you cooked dinner,” she said worriedly. “Why did you cook dinner?” [Ungrateful bitch.]

“I learned how to make spegitti today in ‘Teen Living,’” she said proudly. [Teen Living is what they called Home Ec at my Middle School.] “Try it, aunt Laura. It’s good.”

“I’m sure it is, but I already had dinner at the hospital. I’m too full to eat anything else.”

“But all they have are those candy and Coke machines.”

“I had a big lunch.”

“Come on, just try one little bite.”

“Alright. Quite begging.”

“I am not begging!”

“Just let me try some. I want to get this over with, so I can tell you the good news.” Laura picked up a fork and too some spegetti [WTF? Ok, I get it, took], and ate it. “Mmm. It’s very good, Abbie.” For cardboard, she added to herself

“So what’s the good news,” she said excitedly.

“We’re moving!

“What? Why? How? When? Where?” [You forgot Who, Abbie.]

“We’re moving. It’s because of my job. Driving Tomorrow mourning.” [Sounds like a bad band name.] “The old Creton place.

“We can’t move there!”

“Why?”

“Because the Creton place is evil. I was built on an ancent indian burial ground.” [Were you now, Abbie?] “It--”

“Stop it Abbie. Those are all just wild tales, and you know that.”

“But,” Abbie said in a trembling voice, “that place is evil. I can’t move there.”

“Nonsense. We are moving there tomorrow morning. Now go to your room, and pack some of your stuff. Now.”

“Fine!”

Laura watched Abbie walk up the stairs. She wasn’t very pretty--with brown hair, brown eyes, thick glasses, and was very plan--nor very smart. [This is Abbie, not Laura. And I might as well have been describing myself.] Still, there was something true in what Abbie had said just a few minutes earlier. [What? Even though she’s ugly, there’s truth to what she says. What the hell is that supposed to mean?]

* * * * *

The next morning was an exciting one.

* * * * *

But just how exciting we’ll never find out. What was going on with this story is genius-child Adam falls in love with Lora and tells her he wants to marry her. She laughs and tells him he’s too young for her, wounding his pride, ego, and soul. So what does he do but freeze her body and keep her held in the basement until he’s the same age as she is, and then unfreezes her. We’ll see who laughs then. It’s a love story. Or, at least, the closest I’ve ever come to writing a love story. This is one I actually would like to rewrite, but I guess I wouldn’t really be rewriting it since I never got around to the plot.

This next one is the “Epilogue” to a story I never wrote. And by Epilogue I mean Prologue, because it was supposed to be before the rest of the story. But Epilogue is written at the top.

The Epilogue that Never Was
1996
Age 11

Roxanne ran through the dark courtyard drenched in sweat. They were still after her. They wanted her for their ceremony.

So this is what it’s like to die, she thought. [What what’s like? You’re RUNNING.] She knew this was destiny. She knew this was why she was put on Earth. To die. To feel the touch of death.

Roxanne thought she could escape from her families legacy.

The legacy of Evil.

She knew it was going to e hers one day. But she was a fool.

Now Roxanne Walsh [Walsh?! Walsh is the last name of Maggie Walsh, from The LEGACY by John Coyne, which is about a girl, who is the heir to a family’s legacy of EVIL. Still not very original, was I?] was running for her life for being such a fool as to think she was going to survive.

Survive as a seventeen year old Walsh in the middle of the eighteenth century. The year is 1753. A wonderful year indeed. Yeah right.

Roxanne came to the river.

Trapped, she thought. Then she remembered a tunnel that led under it. [Just because it’s convenient, though I‘m starting to think...] She ran down stream some until she found.

Bingo, she thought. [Eighteenth century girls so did not say Bingo.] She slid into it ever so easy. And soon within that, she was on the other side. The she ran into the darkness of the woods, and remembered a story she had heard when she was a child. Her mother had told it to her.

* * * * *

A young woman named Valerie [I guess I really liked the names Roxanne and Valerie] was so happy to see her fiance again. He had been away from some time now.

When he came back, he had brought a young lady back with him. Valerie was insanely jealous. Her fiance kept telling her that she had nothing to worry about. But she didn’t believe him. [Why would she, he had some random girl staying with him.]

So one knight in haste she murdered the poor girl. Then her fiance walked in and told her the girl was his sister. [You can see from an early age I loved dramatic irony.]

She was so ashamed, that before the guy could stop her, Valerie killed herself.

* * * * *

Roxanne didn’t know why she had just thought of the story out of the blue.

Perhaps it wa because that woman--Valerie--was supposed the be her great grandmother. [How could she possibly be when the woman died before she was married? Or maybe that's what started the Evil legacy, an illegitimate child.]

* * * * *

After about an hour, Roxanne stopped and took several minutes to wright in her diary. [So it can be found in whatever story this was supposed to be a part of, of course.] The she put it down on the grassy ridge.

There, she thought. If anyone ever finds this, they’ll know what is going through my mind right now. [Because I sure don’t.]

Then she stood up, and walked to the ledge.

“Goodbye cruel world,” she called out the wind. [I used that in Dear Sister 3, too!]

She knew no one could here her. The wind was too strong.

She was about to end her life. Should she give this a second thought. [Die already!]

No, she decided. She had to end it now. She took a step. Then another, till she was at the ledge. [Wasn’t she there already?] Then she jumped.

And fell forever. [I knew it! Fall into Darkness.]

* * * * *

And there exists no more.

On a completely unrelated note, I'm a succubus. Wicked, huh?

Which creature of the night are you? Your Result: Incubus/Succubus   It's all about feeding, isn't it? You pay them back from their energy, though. You give them something (your drama) that will keep them distracted from life, which you consider a terrible joke.
Vampire
Ghost
Sorceror
Werewolf
Cthulu Spawn
Demon
Which creature of the night are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Next time: The Dollhouse Murders. There are murders involved. And a truly awesome sounding dollhouse.

The Unfinished Plays of an Underrated Playwright

I'm daring to be different and posting two days in a row. Today we have two very short unnamed and unfinished plays that went absolutely nowhere and I have no memory of writing. Yeah! Sounds like fun. Both were written in sixth grade back in 1996.

Scene 1

Carlos: So what do you guys want to do?
Heather: I dono. Anybody got ideas.
Josie: I’ve gotta idea!
Alex: Josie, your ideas are always trouble.
Becky: Yeah!
Josie: Oh, please.
Dean: I know!
Jim: So what are we gonna do Ducky. [Who the hell is Ducky?]
Becky: Yeah! [And Becky only seems to know one word.]
Jim: Come to my house and I’ll explain everything.

Scene 2 (school)

Josie: How do I look!
Heather: Like a hooker.
Josie: Very funny. Why are you in such a good mood.
Heather: Dean asked me out.
Josie: No kidding. What did ya say.
Heather: I said yes.
(Marc sneaks up behind them)
Marc: Were you lovely ladies talking about me?
Heather: Mark [yes, it‘s spelled different from one line above], you are just so concieded.
Marc: How can I help it with looks as good as min. So Josie, want to go with me to the dance tomorrow night?
Josie: Sure. I have nothing better to do.
Marc: Funny.
(Mark leaves)
Heather: How can you even stand to be near him.
Josie: Why can’t you ever ask me something hard, he has a Jauguire, how can I resist.
Becky: Hi guys. [Guess she was just standing there the whole time waiting for them to notice her… And she didn‘t say Yeah!]
Heather: Hi Becky. Are you going to the dance tomorrow night?
Becky: Yeah. [knew it was coming] How bout you?
Heather: I’m going with Dean.
Josie: Can’t you guys ever talk about anything important.
Heather: Can’t you ever shut up?
Becky: Yeah! [I’m starting to wonder if I did that on purpose…] Can you?
Heather: I guess not.
Becky: Yeah! […]
Josie: You two are just so immature.
Alex: Look who’s talking [where did he come from?]
Josie: Ha ha ha! Very funny.
Alex: I know. Want to go with me to the dance.
Josie: Sorry, but I’m taken.
Alex: By who?
Heather: Mark.
Alex: Your going with Mark instead of me.
Josie: Yeah! What’s it to you!
Alex: Well, that’s just fine with me because I’m taking Raquel.
Josie: Yeah right, I’m going to class.
(Josie leaves)
Alex: I hate her.
Becky: Then why did you ask her out?
Alex: I just felt like it.
Heather: Are you really going with Raquel?
Alex: Of course. Why would I lie? [Because you just asked Josie, maybe?]
Becky: Because your just a lying pig. [Seems like Becky‘s done a 180.]
Heather: That’s him all right.
Becky: I’m going with Jim.
Heather: He asked you.
Becky: Actually I asked him.
Alex: Wonderful.
Heather: Can you mind your own business.
Becky: No he can’t. He’s just like Josie, the queen of gossip. [What happened to Yeah!, Becky. What happened to the girl I was just getting to know?]
(Josie comes back)
Josie: I forgot something.
Becky: Josie, why are you going out with Mark.
Josie: Because I feel like it.
Heather: Well I don’t wanna be late, I’m gion ta class.
Becky: Heather, wait for me!
Alex: Well Josie, I guess it’s just you and me by the lockers. Wanna make out?
Josie: Get out of my face you pig.

Scene 3

Alex: Hey Raquel, wanna go with me to the dance.
Raquel: Sure!
Josie I

* * * * *

That’s it. Who was Ducky? What did Jim explain at his house? Sadly, we’ll never know.

This next one’s about the same length.

* * * * *

Act 1

Roxanne: I have the perfect place to go.
Vincent: Where Rox?
Roxanne: Shave White. [I feel the need to explain this. In In Living Color, in several of their skits they referred to a fancy restaurant called Che White, which at 11 I had no idea how to spell. If you hadn’t guessed, In Living Color was a huge influence on my young life.]
Vincent: Where the hell is that? [Unnecessary swearing! w00t!]
Roxanne; About ten miles south of here.
Vincent: I don’t know if you noticed this Rox, but we are in the middle of nowhere.
Roxanne: We go that way. [I can only assume she’s pointing somewhere.]
Vincent: Great! Let’s go.

Act 2

Valerie: Hello everyone.
George: Why if it isn’t my little Valerie.
Valerie: Hi daddy. Did you miss me?
George: Of course my dear.
Valerie: Where’s Holly?
George: She’s with Mayor Davis. You know, Sherriff Drake has been asking about you. [I’m guessing this is supposed to take place in the old west. Its’ sort of coming back to me. Vincent and Roxanne were the villains. Very unusual for me, though it sort of makes it more interesting imagining the lines being spoken with a southern drawl.]
Valerie: He has?
George: Yes, he has.
Valerie: Well tell him, I’me not interested.
Evet: Hello Mr. Paxson. Who is your guest? [Evet=Yvette because 11-year-old me couldn’t spell.]
George: Hello Evet. I’d like you to meet my daughter Valerie. Valerie, this is our new maid Evet.
Valerie: Nice to meet you Evet.
Evet: Plessure.
George: Well Valerie, how was school?
Valerie: I loved it. We learne about thes two outlaws named Roxanne and Vincent Vanders. [I knew it was a fricken western…] Rumer has it they’re hiding in the area.
George: You don’t say.
Valerie: I do say. And they are dangerous.
George: Holly ought to be here any minute.
Holly: Val, you’re home!
Valerie: Holly, is that you?
Holly: Yup! It’s me!
Valerie: What happened to you?
Holly: Puberty! [You do NOT say that right in front of your father, Holly!]
Valerie: Oh. My little sister is growing up.
Holly: Val, I’ve missed you so much.
Valerie: Let’s go for a walk, for old times sake.
Holly: Kay.

Act 3

Liza: Valerie?
Valerie: Liza.
Liza: Val, your home. Holly, why didn’t you tell me Val was coming home
Holly: Strangely enough, I didn’t know.
Liza: Guess what I’ve heard.
Valerie: What?
Liza: It’s about you.
Holly: What about Val?
Liza: Just that--are you sure you want to know? [Seems I discovered the dash around this time.]
Holly: Just tell us already Liza!
Liza: Tell you what? [Liza needs to die a horrible death.]
Valerie: The News about me.
Liza: Ohh, that. It’s old news, shouldn’t you know it already.
Holly: Just tell Liza!
Liza: Fine! Well Tony Drake told me that Valerie--you will be his wife one way or a nother. And you know what he’s capable of.
Holly: I know it al to well.
Valerie: That is a dirty rotten lie!
Liza: It’s gossip. [Not if he told it to you directly, Liza.]
Valerie: Well you tell Mr. Sherriff, that he can beat me, stab me, shoot me, do anything he wants to me, but I, will never marry him!
Holly: Of course, you’ll be dead by them. [That line is made of win.]

Act 4

Tony: Hey Davis!
Alex: Oh, hi Tony.
Tony: Alex, Alex, Alex.
Alex: what?
Tony: We’ve been friends for a long time.
Alex: What?
Tony: What?
Alex: I’me [Clearly I thought I’m had an e at the end of it. That’s the second time it appears in this.] not doing you any favors.
Tony: Who said I wanted you to do me a favor.
Alex: I know you Tony. Whenever you want something, you start sucking up to me like an idiot. So let’s just skip through all that and you tell me what you want, so I can just say no quickly, so we don’t have to go throug this ordeal.
Tony: Well, your girlfriend Holly Paxson--
Alex: No!
Tony: What?
Alex: I’m not involving Holly.

* * * * *

That‘s it. And it was going so well, too! I actually want to read more. *sad face* All I remember about his one is Tony (the Sheriff) wanted Alex (the Mayor) to help him get Valerie. How the Vanders played into it I have no idea. I’m thinking they held up the saloon or something and Tony saved the day, making Valerie see his worth. Alas, we will never know.

Next time: A little boy obsessed with his father’s nurse is determined to make her his and a girl falls to her death.