Weekly Writing Challenge; The Difference


http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/point-of-view-challenge/ DP Challenge

In today’s challenge, you’ll tell the same story from two or more unique perspectives. You can choose from the prompts below, or create your own prompt.

My Story Challenge

It was about 10:30 at night. Russell, my husband was in bed, but I just couldn’t sleep. I was restless and wasn’t sure why. I had sure worked hard enough at the plant today. It just always seems the better I do, the more parts they want put out. There is no rest for the wicked, I guess.

Russell and I had been married for about 20 years. He rescued me when I made a big mistake years ago. I don’t know if Russell really loved me or if he  just plain felt sorry for me. Back in my day it was improper to do what I had done. I could have paid a higher price than I did. He was a good man. He takes good care of me.

There isn’t a lot of romance but just enough to keep the nerves calm. He works at the same factory I do. In fact he is the one who got me in. He introduced me to his boss and I got work real easy.

I finished drinking my cup of warm milk but still wasn’t tired. I looked towards the window. It was dark as dark could be. This was a quiet neighborhood. We lived on a dead-end street. Not much traffic round here.

I wandered over to the window and pulled the desk chair close. I opened the window a bit to get some fresh air. It is a good thing for sleep, getting fresh air. As I thought, no one stirring.

I sat there for a while just letting the chill go in my nostrils. Instead of making me tired it sort of refreshed me and I was more a wake now than ever. I propped my arm up and rested  my chin on it just staring out over the tops of the trees, gazing at the stars.

I heard a noise and as I looked over in the direction of where it was coming from I spotted two people. They were standing under the only street lamp. He had his arms around her waist and she had her arms around his shoulders.

I squinted so I could get a better look at the two. They looked like maybe they were young high-school kids. I instantly went back in time to the moment I was standing just like they are.

Oh those were the days. The golden days of love and romance. Stars in my eyes. I never did hear anything but the words he whispered in my ear. I wonder where he is today. It has been over twenty years since the last time I saw him.

I watched the two and they were kissing. I know I should turn a way, put my chair back and leave the window, but my own memories were playing on the phonograph and I was sort of scared for these two.

I can still hear his words. Oh baby, I just love you so much. You know how much I want you and besides this just isn’t fair; you turning me down. We both know I have to leave for the military next week. How can I go knowing I never got to prove my love to you.

I watched as they dropped their hands and moved over to the grass. I could still see them but not as good. He took off his jacket and laid it on the grass.

I didn’t want to do what I did, but I loved him so much. How could I turn him down?

Oh young lady, you better be real careful. Don’t fall for any of his cute words. He is just trying to have his way with you. He is thinking of his own needs and nothing about you. I couldn’t see exactly what they were doing but by the stirring I knew they were about to do the same things I did.

He talked me into laying down on the grass where he was already sitting. He took my face and turned it towards him and he kissed me real quick. I can remember looking into his eyes. I must have set off some sort of stupid signal because the next thing I knew he had sort of pushed me down to the ground and he was kissing me real hard on the mouth. He parted my lips apart with his tongue and he was feeling everywhere inside.

Oh girlie, I hope you aren’t letting him do that to you. Neither of you look old enough to be getting married. From here you both look like you’re still wet behind the ears. Be careful honey. Don’t listen to anything he says. Get up, walk a way, I promise you won’t regret it. Sure it will hurt for a few days, but you could be ruining the rest of your life.

Oh baby, I love you so much. I can remember as he was sweet talking me his fingers were fumbling with buttons. His hands were finding places I had never even explored myself.

Mr., Mr. please don’t do this. Don’t ruin her for the rest of her life. Have some decency. Get up and go home and take a cold shower. Tears started to stream from my eyes. I didn’t even know I was beginning to cry until my hand started to feel wet. Oh how I wish I would have made different choices. I was too young.

He placed his hand in a very private area. Against my words my body rose to the attention it was getting. In no time at all he was standing up, zipping up his pants. He lit a cigarette and looked down at me. I felt warm all over and when I touched myself and looked at my hand I saw blood. All he could do was laugh and say, oh that’s the way all virgins look the first time, but don’t worry, you won’t ever see that again. I was so ashamed. I had done something that I knew inside was wrong.

I stared through the window barely breathing. Soon I saw that man standing up. He was looking down at her like mind did with me. He helped her up and the two walked off.

When he got done with me he didn’t help me up. He just smoked while I tried to paste myself back together. Once I was standing up he gave me a quick peck on the cheek and we walked towards our homes. At the corner he waved goodbye and we parted.

As I watched the two walk hand in hand I wept. I blew my nose on the hankie tucked inside my sleeve. I was weeping for that girl and the girl I once was. I prayed a silent prayer that her life had not just been ruined.

You know, I never saw him again after that night. I did write him a letter months later when I had our baby boy, but he never answered back. I was alone. I had made a big mistake. I had believed in a dream full of words. It changed everything. My parents did the best they knew for me. I kept my baby and learned to be a mommy. Life was rough until I met Russell. Now, years later, my son is a grown man, married and has a family of his own. I got a good man who I am  pretty sure loves me. I was one of the lucky ones.eye crying

Something Stupid


I felt like I

Did not fit in

All I wanted

Was to

Be noticed

He was in my class

I caught his eye

He smiled and

I smiled back

On Friday night

We met

We went

To the park

I said something

Stupid like

I love you

And now as

I look down

At my baby

In my arms

I weep.

Written by,

Terry Shepherd

09/18/2013

Teen-Baby-1000292http://youtu.be/GtHJATon0Xk

No Means Maybe


When you’re so very  near

I can not see

You are too close

For me to know

If you are real

Or just playing the field

You have to back away

And give me space

I have to know

And feel it’s right

Don’t ask me to

Do what feels not right

Please loosen the  reigns

Don’t hold so tight

For what I want

Is not short-term

My mind is really made up

I wish for us to be

Old together

I won’t give in

So soon tonight

So please back up

And let me look

Let me discover

The chapters in your book

Let’s take it easy

Let’s take it slow

Let’s discover

If this is a go.

Written by,

Terry Shepherd

08/09/2013

http://youtu.be/4pJ8_cYoZdY                                                             A man and a woman in an office, 1980s

The Ruined Summer


” I can’t believe you just said that to me. Go a way. Leave me alone. I never want to see you again.” Rose wept into her hands. Her legs were wobbling and she knew she was about to collapse to the ground. She didn’t want Jason to see her in that position. Crying in front of him was humiliating enough.

Jason ignored her pleas and came over to her and put his arm around her. As his arm touched her shoulder Rose’s body jolted and her hand came up slapping him across the face. ” I said, leave me alone. You are nothing but scum. I trusted you. How could you do this to me?

Oh God, it’s no big deal. People do it all the time. You don’t see any of your other friends acting totally insane like you do you?”

” What? What are you saying? I am not like other people. I am Rose and no one else. I am not trying to win population votes here. I loved you Jason. You said I was the only one and now I find out through gossip that you were with another last night.”

” So, it is no big deal. That other girl means nothing to me. In fact, if you want to know the truth, she sort of forced herself on me. I think she slipped something in my drink last night. You know I would never hurt you intentionally don’t you?”

Once again he walked closer to her and took his arms and placed them around her waist. Rose looked up into his icy-blue eyes. She saw no regrets. Mirrors of laughter reflected back at her. Mocking and laughing at her for being so foolish and the biggest fool.

She gathered up all of her strength and drew her knee up landing him good right in the male  parts. This knocked him down to the ground. He rolled from side to side in pain. Next he came back to his senses and stood up brushing dirt off of his pants.

” No one gets a way with trying to  hurt me. Rose, you will pay for this. You will pay for this good. I will ruin you. I will destroy what little reputation you have. You will regret ever kneeing me. You will see.”

He started to walk a way and he then turned back as he heard her voice.

” No Jason, I will be the one ruining your precious reputation. For if I find out that I am pregnant I will tell everyone what you did to me. I will call the police and have you arrested for  rape. I will tell your parents. If I am pregnant, you will pay dearly for the rest of your life. No, it will me that destroys you. Don’t you ever forget it.”

He turned around and walked a way, shaking his head at her rude comments. Who did she think she was threatening him like this. He was the Captain of the Basketball team. He was on the honor roll. His parents owned two businesses in town. She was such a loser.

Rose walked a way never looking back in his direction. She couldn’t believe she had bought that crap that he loved her. She had been saving herself for the right person. He had told her everything she had ever want to hear. They had spent the entire school year together every minute. To know that he was screwing around on her behind her back was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.

She went through the front door and up the stairs to her bedroom. She threw her clothes off and started the shower. Getting in the hottest water her body could handle she scrubbed until her skin was bright red.

She wanted nothing more than to start her life all over. To wash any memories of where he had touched her. As she stood in the steamy shower she hoped and prayed this didn’t lead to anything worse than the fight they had just had.lily