The city stood as an empty wasteland. Cars lined the streets, abounded, their doors hanging open from when their owners escaped only to be slaughtered minutes later. Nothing moved, well at least nothing that would alarm me. I peeked around the corner, on to the empty street. I glanced back up the fire escape I had climbed down. A few streetlights flickered on. Evening was one of the safest times to move around outside of the shelter. Because they have the same disadvantage as you did in the dark. I tried to keep myself from shaking but it was inevitable. I hadn’t eaten in a few days, that is the entire reason that I was making this trip out of my sanctuary.
I slowly slide around the corner; I stayed low to the ground and in the shadows. I stopped every few seconds sure I had heard my impending death coming towards me. I had made it nearly half way to the store near the corner of the street when I came across a body. From what I could make of it in the darkness, it appeared to be a woman. She laid on her side a hand was outstretched reaching for something; I could see the woman’s ribcage and a part of her spine. I was glad I had not eaten anything it would not have been as easy trying to keep myself from vomiting. I hesitated going closer but I had to. When I was close enough to her I tapped the woman with my foot. She remained motionless. I did it again, harder this time. She still lay as she should and I noticed the smell of her decaying flesh. I stepped over what was left of her. I tried not to look at what remained.
One of her legs was gone. The other gnawed to the bone. There was nothing left inside her ribcage and even a few ribs had been ripped from her. I refused to look
at her face. Half afraid it would be torn from her, the other half afraid of what remained on it.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Assignement for my Creative Writing class
Jessica had been driving down the sandy Arizona road for hours. Her sunglasses made everything have a gold tint. A map had been thrown carelessly in the passengers seat, it’s many pages spread out across the seat. She was lost. She was planning on being in her hotel room about two hours ago. Jessica was an archaeologist, well at least a retired one. She was now teaching at a small college where none of her students were actually interested in archaeology. They were just there for the credits. When an old colleague of hers had invited her to a dig site she was ecstatic to get back out on the field. She gave a frustrated sigh and flicked the turn signal on as she pulled into the gas station.
As soon as she turned the car off she could tell the difference in temperature. She got out of her car and felt the full extent of the heat. Grabbing a hat she placed it on her head and walked around to the other side of the car. She was ready to get back in her car and have the air conditioner full blast. She frowned when she realized that the gas wasn’t pumping. She sighed and walked into the gas station. She was not greeted by any air conditioning but by a young blond woman who was leaning up against the counter in a very short tank top and even shorter shorts. The young blond glanced at Jessica as she entered. The only sound in the store was the hum of the coolers and the small electronic fan the woman was using to cool herself with.
“What do you want?” The woman said irritably.
Jessica scowled at her for a moment and looked around to see if anyone less hostile was around.
“Your fuel pump isn’t working. I’m trying to buy gas.”
The blond rolled her eyes and turned her head towards the open door behind cashier’s counter and bellowed. “Alvin, you’ve got a customer.”
A man in his late 30’s appeared at the door shortly after. He was rubbing some grease off his hands. “Well, hello there miss. What can I do ya’ for?” He asked cheerfully.
“I’m trying to purchase gas.” Jessica said shortly. The heat was getting to her.
“Ah, well.” He gave a quickly glance to the blond woman who had gone back to fanning
herself. “Those machines can be pretty tricky. Let me give you a hand.”
Jessica nodded and led the way to her white Buick that was now spotted with red sand.
“Nice car you have there.” Alvin said with a whistle.
She gave a small shrug. “It gets me where I need to go. That’s what matters.”
Alvin gave her a smile and turned to the gas pump. After pressing a few buttons and hitting it a few times, which she thought was a very bad idea, the pump started to work.
“Tadaa.” Alvin said in triumph.
“Thank you very much.”
“No problem miss. It’s my job after all. If it’s alright with you I’m going to stay out here and watch this to make sure it doesn’t stop again,” He pointed to the pump. “Wouldn’t want a pretty lady like standing out in the sun more than she has to.”
“That’s very kind of you.” She leaned up against her car awkwardly for a moment.
“Would you happen to know where I could find a restaurant around here?”
“Well if you keep going straight north you’ll come to a crossroads. You take a left there and it should take you into town. There’s a few good restaurants there.”
She nodded her appreciations and they stood there for a minute listening to the gas.
“I hope you don’t think I’m prying but I noticed you have Denver plates. What brings you up to Arizona?”
“I don’t mind. I’m going to a dig site. An old colleague of mine’s running the whole thing and invited me along.”
“A dig site? Like dinosaurs and stuff?” Alvin asked with interest.
“Well, it’s not all dinosaurs. We’ve got your fossilized plants and insects. They’re just as interesting as the dinosaurs themselves.” She replied in her professor’s voice.
Alvin gave her a skeptical look. “Plants can be just as interesting as T-rex?”
“If you ask me I think that the Tyrannosaurs Rex gets far too much credit. Most of the evidence actually points to the Tyrannosaurs Rex as being a scavenger more than a predator.” She said.
“Really?” Alvin crossed his arms.
“Yes. It still hasn’t been proven yet but that’s the way the outcome is looking.”
The gas clicked to a stop.
“Well there you go mama. All fueled up to go dinosaur hunting.” Alvin said with a grin. “Paying inside?”
Jessica nodded and followed as Alvin lead them back into the station. The blond still leaned on the counter fanning herself.
“That’ll be 28.50. Man, that cars a gas guzzler.” Alvin said as he took the card Jessica handed to him.
“Tell me about it.” She said with a smile.
“And off you go. Have a nice trip.” He said with one last grin.
“Thank you.” She said putting the card back into her purse. She walked back across the smoldering lot and into her car. She was relieved when she felt the air conditioner turn to life. She kept north, taking Alvin’s directions and hoping that before long she could get back on track and finally make it to her hotel.
The assignment was to write about a professor named Jessica who met a gas employee Alvin. She had to ask for directions or something. I don't remember it, it was a while ago.
Written March 4 2009
As soon as she turned the car off she could tell the difference in temperature. She got out of her car and felt the full extent of the heat. Grabbing a hat she placed it on her head and walked around to the other side of the car. She was ready to get back in her car and have the air conditioner full blast. She frowned when she realized that the gas wasn’t pumping. She sighed and walked into the gas station. She was not greeted by any air conditioning but by a young blond woman who was leaning up against the counter in a very short tank top and even shorter shorts. The young blond glanced at Jessica as she entered. The only sound in the store was the hum of the coolers and the small electronic fan the woman was using to cool herself with.
“What do you want?” The woman said irritably.
Jessica scowled at her for a moment and looked around to see if anyone less hostile was around.
“Your fuel pump isn’t working. I’m trying to buy gas.”
The blond rolled her eyes and turned her head towards the open door behind cashier’s counter and bellowed. “Alvin, you’ve got a customer.”
A man in his late 30’s appeared at the door shortly after. He was rubbing some grease off his hands. “Well, hello there miss. What can I do ya’ for?” He asked cheerfully.
“I’m trying to purchase gas.” Jessica said shortly. The heat was getting to her.
“Ah, well.” He gave a quickly glance to the blond woman who had gone back to fanning
herself. “Those machines can be pretty tricky. Let me give you a hand.”
Jessica nodded and led the way to her white Buick that was now spotted with red sand.
“Nice car you have there.” Alvin said with a whistle.
She gave a small shrug. “It gets me where I need to go. That’s what matters.”
Alvin gave her a smile and turned to the gas pump. After pressing a few buttons and hitting it a few times, which she thought was a very bad idea, the pump started to work.
“Tadaa.” Alvin said in triumph.
“Thank you very much.”
“No problem miss. It’s my job after all. If it’s alright with you I’m going to stay out here and watch this to make sure it doesn’t stop again,” He pointed to the pump. “Wouldn’t want a pretty lady like standing out in the sun more than she has to.”
“That’s very kind of you.” She leaned up against her car awkwardly for a moment.
“Would you happen to know where I could find a restaurant around here?”
“Well if you keep going straight north you’ll come to a crossroads. You take a left there and it should take you into town. There’s a few good restaurants there.”
She nodded her appreciations and they stood there for a minute listening to the gas.
“I hope you don’t think I’m prying but I noticed you have Denver plates. What brings you up to Arizona?”
“I don’t mind. I’m going to a dig site. An old colleague of mine’s running the whole thing and invited me along.”
“A dig site? Like dinosaurs and stuff?” Alvin asked with interest.
“Well, it’s not all dinosaurs. We’ve got your fossilized plants and insects. They’re just as interesting as the dinosaurs themselves.” She replied in her professor’s voice.
Alvin gave her a skeptical look. “Plants can be just as interesting as T-rex?”
“If you ask me I think that the Tyrannosaurs Rex gets far too much credit. Most of the evidence actually points to the Tyrannosaurs Rex as being a scavenger more than a predator.” She said.
“Really?” Alvin crossed his arms.
“Yes. It still hasn’t been proven yet but that’s the way the outcome is looking.”
The gas clicked to a stop.
“Well there you go mama. All fueled up to go dinosaur hunting.” Alvin said with a grin. “Paying inside?”
Jessica nodded and followed as Alvin lead them back into the station. The blond still leaned on the counter fanning herself.
“That’ll be 28.50. Man, that cars a gas guzzler.” Alvin said as he took the card Jessica handed to him.
“Tell me about it.” She said with a smile.
“And off you go. Have a nice trip.” He said with one last grin.
“Thank you.” She said putting the card back into her purse. She walked back across the smoldering lot and into her car. She was relieved when she felt the air conditioner turn to life. She kept north, taking Alvin’s directions and hoping that before long she could get back on track and finally make it to her hotel.
The assignment was to write about a professor named Jessica who met a gas employee Alvin. She had to ask for directions or something. I don't remember it, it was a while ago.
Written March 4 2009
Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.
He quietly sat the back of the classroom patient as always. His haired dyed blond by the bright sun. The skin on the bridge of his nose was pink and slightly peeling, underneath the light sunburn he had, were pale freckles that spread across his entire body.
The clock had stopped, almost froze up from having all eyes on it. People held their breath watching, waiting, and hoping that the second hand will continue to move.
Even the teacher had given up on trying to obtain the students attention and added his eyes to the stare of the clock.
Owen removed his eyes from the clock, hoping that with a bit more privacy the clock would speed itself up. The other students were still focused on the plastic circle. He glanced back up at the clock before scanning the student’s faces again.
The privacy did not help the clock perform and it felt like hours before the clock reached it’s destined time. It gave a loud shriek, the climax of its performance and the students jumped out of their seats and scattered for the door.
The clock continued to tick the time away slowly even though no one was there to watch, it still ticked away precious seconds of their lives.
quote by Ben Hecht
US author & dramatist
The clock had stopped, almost froze up from having all eyes on it. People held their breath watching, waiting, and hoping that the second hand will continue to move.
Even the teacher had given up on trying to obtain the students attention and added his eyes to the stare of the clock.
Owen removed his eyes from the clock, hoping that with a bit more privacy the clock would speed itself up. The other students were still focused on the plastic circle. He glanced back up at the clock before scanning the student’s faces again.
The privacy did not help the clock perform and it felt like hours before the clock reached it’s destined time. It gave a loud shriek, the climax of its performance and the students jumped out of their seats and scattered for the door.
The clock continued to tick the time away slowly even though no one was there to watch, it still ticked away precious seconds of their lives.
quote by Ben Hecht
US author & dramatist
Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.
The small metallic clicking noise was soft and smoothing next to his ear. The rhythmic ticking echoed through his ears. The young man’s breath was strained; his eyes were wide as he stared at the bed covers through his knees that were pressed to his cheeks. He didn’t hear the wristwatch’s ticking, he heard a heart beat. One that didn’t beat anymore. He clenched his hands over his ears hoping to block out the sound. It didn’t help. He shut his eyes tight and sunk his teeth into his bottom lip as he dug his fingernails into the sensitive skin behind his ears. He could still hear the heart beat, the soft beeping sound of the monitor. The slight raising of the heartbeat. The rushing sounds of the nurses and doctors as he was pushed from the room.
Then the silence, everything was silent except for a long steady tone of death.
Tick, tick, tick
He let out a small muffled sob as his eyes burned and his eyelids held back his tears.
He opened his eyes and a few tears leaked out and slid down his face, he ignored them. They felt too natural there to really notice them. He turned to look at the watch that he had placed on his bedside table.
Tick, it greeted him in a mocking tone.
Ray bit his lip harder resisting the urge to throw the watch across the room. To hear it smack against the wall and break stopping the ticking forever.
quote by Isaac Asimov
US science fiction novelist & scholar
Then the silence, everything was silent except for a long steady tone of death.
Tick, tick, tick
He let out a small muffled sob as his eyes burned and his eyelids held back his tears.
He opened his eyes and a few tears leaked out and slid down his face, he ignored them. They felt too natural there to really notice them. He turned to look at the watch that he had placed on his bedside table.
Tick, it greeted him in a mocking tone.
Ray bit his lip harder resisting the urge to throw the watch across the room. To hear it smack against the wall and break stopping the ticking forever.
quote by Isaac Asimov
US science fiction novelist & scholar
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