Saturday, April 26, 2008

The Writer's Office

Let's get to work writing a short story! (Credit Minion ME with making us write during a party.) Here's the assignment:

It's a short story by committee. ME has started you off with the title and first few sentences in the Comments. Now YOU add the next couple of sentences. Then someone else adds another couple or so. And so on. Getting too sexy/violent/angsty? Change the direction or tone with your contribution. You have control. We'll keep the story rolling throughout the party.

But a story has to have an ending, right? And everyone wants to have the final word. So, here's how we'll decide who gets it.

Scroll down to "The Final Word," and post your name/ID there (just once). When time's called, we'll count the number of entries, assign a sequential number to each of the comments, throw that many numbers into a virtual hat, draw a random winner and put that winner's name on the post.

____________________________________

"When I First Met EE" appears below in its entirety. Individual contributors, along with comments from a few Minions who wandered into the wrong room, are in the comments for this post.

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

WHEN I FIRST MET EE

Anonymous said...

I always knew that Evil existed, but I never thought he'd be noshing bagels and lox with me while resting on the fluffy cushions scattered in my living room. I wish I could say I remember it all with crystal-clear clarity, but I don't. The memories I do retain are as grey and fuzzy as the muttonchops on his face.

Sylvia said...

Wednesday has started normally enough, that I do know. There was a sparrow chattering crazily outside of my window but other than that it seemed like just another day.

writtenwyrdd said...

Until the bad lox kicked in and I started screaming from the gut cramps and ran into the other room.

Anonymous said...

After a heave and a ho (I think she was a friend of Evil's) in the Hall of the Porcelain King, I returned to find the dedicated Editor surrounded by an array of laptops and electronic devices.

ME

Sylvia said...

There was tinny music rising from one of the laptops. I paused for a moment as I tried to place the melody - it was a song I remembered well from my teenage years but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

writtenwyrdd said...

No, wait! It was a Barry White song! And you know what that means!

Stacy said...

It means someone's gettin' DOWN tonight.

Sarah Laurenson said...

Robin was almost at the front door and the Evil one was psyching himself up for her visit.

Evil Editor said...

He had on his special thong, the one with the anteater picture and the strategically located hole.

Whirlochre said...

He paused for a moment in front of the mirror to take in his reflection and purr.

'Whoops,' he said, whipping off the thong quickly. 'I've put these on the wrong way round.'

Bonnie said...

Just then the doorbell rang. A fierce yapping pierced the air.

"When did Robin get a dog?" he wondered.

Sylvia said...

(I'm just too scared!)

writtenwyrdd said...

But then EE realised the barking came from outside the door. A vague memory of an alcoholic dream wafted through his mind. A memory of an invitation he'd issued during a gin-soaked business dinner.

Thinking quickly, he rearranged the thong (get a size larger next time, he reminded himself) and dashed for the bathroom where poor Robin was still prostrate with bad fish.

"Quickly! Lend me your hairbrush!"

Evil Editor said...

"My hairbrush?"

"Also, a lipstick, yo-yo, paper clip, and some kite string."

Anonymous said...

Another wave of cramps hit Robin, who nodded weakly. "Take whatever you need, my darling." Then she threw up again.

Rummaging through the various drawers in her kitchen, EE found the paperclip and kite string. They'd used a yo-yo the night before, so he rushed to grab that from the bedroom.

He had to pause at Robin's vanity table, trying to find the lipstick he needed.

"Robin, my honeysuckle, my plum pudding, don't you have any actual red lipstick?"

writtenwyrdd said...

More knocking, accompanied by a basso growl, sounded from without.

Sylvia said...

Fernando handed me a box with six bottles in it. "This is for you," he told me. I knew the gift was the delivery, I was expected to pay for the drink. I was happy to.

I gave him a pittance and he nodded and left me. The small village where he comes from has a co-op: they take their grapes in September and October and then in the winter, when it's quiet, they all take a part in selling the port. I am Fernando's only customer but that's enough.

There's something about a hefty Portuguese man bringing you a bottle of port from the mountains. It tastes twenty times nicer than anything you could buy in the shops . He invited me to his home one summer. I have photographs of his vineyards, of the goat they roasted as a celebration, of the grapes being crushed at the co-op.

Every sip I drink has a history. And you can't possibly consider me a drunk with a drink like that...

Anonymous said...

Suddenly, Robin and Evil heard a strange sound on the rooftop. An instant later they saw the rope lines and they ducked, just in time, as Miss Snark rappelled into the kitchen.

ME

writtenwyrdd said...

"Killer Yap says he wants to be groomed NOW, Evil, and now means NOW by Dog!"

She advanced on EE, who was busy assembling a McGuyveresque concoction of yo-yo, hairbrush and paperclip.

"Back off, Snark, or it's the poodle clip!"

Anonymous said...

Hoping not to have to resort to violence, EE waved the tube of not-red lipstick in front of Snark's face. Robin tensed, despite her earlier queasiness, ready to take out Snark if the woman dared to advance on her muttonchop beloved.

writtenwyrdd said...

Snark halted, her stiletto heels digging into the berber. A moue of distaste puckered her botoxed face. "You wouldn't dare! I'm SO not an Autumn!"

Dave Fragments said...

But Killer Yapp, the little ankle biting eunuch drew first blood. He shredded EE's socks and began to gnaw his ankles.

"Woman, your dog is molesting me," EE yelled.

writtenwyrdd said...

"Why the hell did you open the door for that fuzzy rat-dog?" EE yelled at Robin, who leaned drunkenly against the wall, eyes crossed with pain.

"Huh? Wazza mrrfff bleh?"

Anonymous said...

"Save the cute nicknames for the bedroom," EE hissed, trying to disengage Killer Yap while salvaging his precious socks. He muttered to himself, "This is what I get for getting involved with minions. Even sexy minions."

"Talking to yourself, darling?" Snark asked, still eyeing the tube of lipstick disdainfully.

writtenwyrdd said...

EE noticed then that Snark wasn't talking to him at all. Nor the dog.

Stacy said...

Was she really talking to the lipstick?

Then he realized why the lipstick wasn't red: because it wasn't lipstick at all. It was a caterpillar.

Anonymous said...

"Salmgundi and damnit to Hell, Snark! Yapp just took a dump on my laptop. You owe me big time!"

ME

talpianna said...

Suddenly the door was pushed wider as an army of moles rushed in. They surrounded the yappy little dog and tickled him with their vibrissae until he passed out. They then shouldered the unconscious canine and marched out.

"Cameo appearances aren't what they used to be," muttered Kiku as she shoved the door closed behind her.

Robin S. said...

Then Robin took matters into her own hand. Or hands, as it were.
Because she knew, she just knew, that she and EE were fated to be together...forever.

(Or until he went wandering off and leaving her in the lurch.)

Anonymous said...

And now, a brief musical interlude. Or is it a "dedication song" from Robin to EE??

Consoled a cup of coffee but it didn't wanna talk
So I picked up a paper, it was more bad news
More hearts being broken or people being used
Put on my coat in the pouring rain
I saw a movie it just wasn't the same
'Cause it was happy and I was sad
It made me miss you oh so bad 'cause
Dreams last for so long
Even after you're gone
I know you love me
And soon you will see
You were meant for me
And I was meant for you.
I go about my business, I'm doin fine
Besides what would I say if I had you on the line
Same old story, not much to say
Hearts are broken, everyday.
I brush my teeth and put the cap back on
I know you hate it when I leave the light on
I pick a book up. Turn the sheets down.
Take a deep breath and a good look around
Put on my pjs and hop into bed
I'm half alive but I feel mostly dead
I try and tell myself it'll be all right
I just shouldn't think anymore tonight 'cause
Dreams last for so long
Even after you're gone
I know you love me
And soon I know you will see
You were meant for me
And I was meant for you

Yeah.... You were meant for me and I was meant for you.

ME
(who really hopes Robin likes this song and adds more to the story since ME prevented a serial post)

ME

Anonymous said...

I think the story got halfway written in the first person POV and that person is "Robin"???

ME

Robin S. said...

Heh heh. I think McK and other newer visitors need to take this in tow.

Anonymous said...

Following that brief musical interlude, we pick up the action with Robin watching EE prop his new alligator boots on the railing of his gigantic sailboat down there on Park Avenue.

"Because she knew, she just knew, that she and EE were fated to be together...forever."

Oh, no, that was Jesse, somebody else's hero.

Robin blew her nose on a post-it note about Kleenex and wondered whether, in his deepest heart and despite his outward predilection for hot tub hussies, the Evil One shared her fondness for sappy old rom-coms.

Anonymous said...

Oh, forgot to give credit to Jewel for the musical quaalude.

ME

Robin S. said...

Oh, jeb - I love that - and i loved that movie!!!

Saipan Writer said...

Somewhere in a strange dream sequence, alligator boots became alligator boobs, and Robin was wondering ...

fairyhedgehog said...

"Are you ignoring me?" Miss Snark snarked snarkily.
"Honeybun, would I do a thing like that?" Evil Editor ejaculated roguishly.
"Who are you calling Honeybun? I'm your one true love," Robin wept copiously.
EE took her in his arms. Then he pushed her back so he could wipe the snot off his shoulder.

writtenwyrdd said...

Romantic interludes are not what they used to be, thought Robin, who in a pique stomped on EE's instep and rounded on Snark.

"Hey, he doesn't deserve either of us. What do you say, you and me go get pizza?"

Evil Editor said...

"Ha, that's just what Brenda and Deece and Kiersten and a. and Micky and anonymous cute bakery owner want us to do."

"I doubt he'd be happy with any of them. Besides, we'll be back in an hour. What can happen in an hour?"

writtenwyrdd said...

"Plenty. But, yanno, if we tie him up..."

"On it!" Robin pounced, taking EE down in prime WWE style. "Grab me that curtain cord, quick!"

Anonymous said...

With EE securely hog-tied and gagged, Robin and Miss Snark set out in search of pizza, leaving KY to guard the enraged editor. Too bad they forgot that he still had the yo-yo, the paperclip and the hairbrush shoved down his pants.

ME

writtenwyrdd said...

Using his prehensile tongue, EE flipped open his cell phone and dialed. "Deece, babe, I need you bad. Come on over to Robin's and take me away. And bring some bacon. KY's guarding the door to Paradise, Sweets."

Evil Editor said...

Using his teeth, EE remaoved the string from the yo-yo; then with his tongue, he tied one end to the paper clip and the other to the hairbrush. Perfect, he thought. By the time Deece gets here I'll be free.

Chris Eldin said...

"I'm kinda in the middle of something," Deece said.

Chris Eldin said...

Oops, we'll go with EE's!

writtenwyrdd said...

With my what? EE thought, then realized it was his evil twin personality. Not now!

Quickly, EE got himself loose and stuck his fingers in his ears. When Deece arrived a few minutes later, it was to find our intrepid hero with his fingers in his ears and eyes squinched shut, reciting over and over, "I'm not listerning, I'm not listening."

Evil Editor said...

"And this is news?" Deece said. "What man ever listens? My husband hasn't heard a word I've said since I told him we were out of beer four years ago. Furthermore, why is there a fluffy white guinea pig latched onto my tush?"

Heather Wardell said...

"Sweetheart, what you do for fun is none of my concern," EE said, "although remind me to try it some time. For now, get rid of this ridiculous dog. We have pizza to get!"

Deece tickled the guinea pig until it let go, rubbed its furry hide against her cheek and purred, then tossed it to KY. KY leapt for it, forgetting he was just a little poodle, and the guinea pig got him by the throat.

Ignoring EE's cries of, "I want to watch!" Deece pushed him out the door past the dueling dog and pig. KY's final yap went unheard.

Evil Editor said...

"Now maybe Snark will put a different picture on her last blog post," EE said. "A weredingo."

Phoenix Sullivan said...

OK, Talpianna, it's up to you from here. Closing down comments on this post so we know where the story is up to now. Tal, you can post the ending on The Final Word post below. I'll move it up here later so the whole story is together and people can see who contributed each part.

I'll also put all the pieces together and publish it out (ooh, that sounds better than posting it out, doesn't it?) as a continuous story so everyone can enjoy!