Curiouser and Curiouser
I grew up on Ficlets. There, the writer inside me had a home. I'm a teacher now, and a 4th grader who reminds me so much of myself asked, "Why don't you share your writing with us?" So, I come tentatively, searching for a place to stretch my writing muscles again.
Dear Colin,
Help. I can't seem to escape from stories.
I swam through ours last night, poring over emails and journal entries. It felt a little like passing a car crash and being unable to look away. I finally closed my dry eyes at 3 a.m. So, this morning, I prescribed myself some medicinal caffeine.
That coffee shop bustled with stories, a box made of micro-boxes, each a theater showing something unique. Some stories told themselves at first glance: the woman's phone conversation about a child in treatment, the three high school seniors oozing nostalgia and excitement with every shared smile. I hopped from scene to scene, always comfortable behind the umpteen 4th walls, made of business and willful ignorance.
But, Colin, there was this guy. His eyes hopped around too, and met mine, too many times.
I couldn't figure out his story. I hoped, unreasonably, that he would come tell it to me.
He didn't. Just stood, smiled again, tossed me a story I can't imagine but can't avoid writing.
That simply won't do.
Prequels
Sequels
No sequels yet. Why not write one?
Comments (6 so far!)
Storykeeper
Hmm. Colin is a different person, a friend, to whom she's writing. That's not clear enough. Off to make some edits!
- #1733 Posted 6 years ago
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Tall glass of Kel
It seems to me that the narrator was up all night pining over come what may and the past of she and another.. I followed that you went to the coffee shop and began speaking to Colin about the world around you pertaining to the coffee shop. It's unclear to me what Elsa mentioned about recognizing a talent in the narrator. What I got from it was that perhaps the guy mentioned was at a meeting and you wanted to know so badly about his story, but didn't quite have the courage or feared being to hastily intrusive. I felt that the narrator was letting the reader know that something huge had happened in terms of perspective on life and one's privilege of certain freedoms. I love that caffeine is considered medicinal. I happen to like curiousness! Let us know how it goes!
- #1741 Posted 6 years ago
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Storykeeper
Edits complete. Elsha, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts now.
- #1771 Posted 6 years ago
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ElshaHawk LoA
Ok, this is reading very differently to me now. Now I see her writing a note to Colin about the man and her surroundings. It still seems like the man and woman share some link that neither or them know about, but something registers subconsciously.
- #1774 Posted 6 years ago
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Inspired by (sequel to):
John liked coffee shops. They were places to focus, to drown himself in business and caffeine. Excep…
The Coffee Shop- Published 6 years ago.
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ElshaHawk LoA
Is she naming him Colin as if he's a character in her head, or is he really named Colin and if so, how does she know his name and nothing else?
She doesn't mention world-hopping, so is that a secret to her as well? Surely she would know if she did it. I kinda like the idea that he recognizes a talent in her which she is unaware of, though.