[barbarian ancestor]
Ho! In village we have rug rugweaver who never finished by promised time. Finally, we take such late-workings from weaver and use them to wrap his body into tight tube-constriction, then we hung him uspide down over devil-ant hill, pour honey into top of tube, and have feast while watching devil ants eat through torso to get to yummy honey.
[/barbarian ancestor]
AGHHH!
OK–I’m incredibly rude (not really–just net-less for the weekend) My apologies to all. I am working furiously on this and will have it posted before the day is over. Thank you and please don’t throw things at me
bella
Awww, thank you Oreo. I should have suspected that somebody named after such chocolaty-creamy goodness would be so sweet. 
I’m having a blast, too. This is fun!
Zap!
'sokay, I figured it was something like that. I feel kinda rude/pushy myself for chasing you guys down 'cause, y’know, The Dope Is Not Life or something like that, but I think the natives were getting restless. Oh well. No pressure belladonna, don’t rush to get it in.
Belladonna…One Word:
Wow.
I am again humbled by an artist with a true gift for writing. That was fantastic.
I just saw this. I hadn’t been to the boards in days, sorry. Ok, now that I know about it, I’ll have my post started by Wednesday.
And for future reference, instead of starting a courtesy phone thread, you’d have better luck getting hold of me through e-mail.
Okay–I’m just checking in here to post my link so that there aren’t any problems finding it. HerMajestyLorna, you’re up next!
Oreo–thanks! I am so excited about this whole thing, I love to write but my life’s so hectic anymore that it takes something like this to get me back into it. I am digging what you group C people have going on over there, too. I can’t wait to see how everything ends up ::fidgiting impatiently::
bella–scampering off to read Yondan’s starting thread…
Man, all of you guys are doing great stuff. I can’t wait to see how these things turn out!
Zap!
Here’s my linkety-link-link. Like Yondan, I haven’t titled mine because even I don’t know what it’s about yet.
Was that a beautiful woman, or a long drink of poison?
Great opening, Bella! Such vitriol! Such venom! Such unrepentant bitchiness! It’s like listening to Joan Collins on speed brag about her older sister Liz Taylor and how much she enjoyed giving that lavender-eyed shrew a Colombian necktie.
I loved these lines:
Bravo!
Yes folks, it’s a long drive! It’s going, going, going…
Well we don’t where it’s going, but it’s definitely on its way! And this paragraph is at least a triple all by itself:
You merry prankster! Woof!
Oreo and Zappo! I know it probably wasn’t intentional, but with this story I can almost feel myself sitting in a cushy red velvet theater chair, holding a tub of popcorn and cold coke, and wondering just how creepy this is going to get.
'Course maybe that’s just me, but this Vince guy is just too nice, know what I mean? And Claire? Girl, what is wrong with you? Are you crazy?
Now, who do we cast in these roles? George Hamilton and Princess Grace? How about Donna Reed and Gregory Peck?
Wow. I knew I wasn’t making a mistake by choosing the starters that I did. Crunchy and belladonna, beautifully done! I’m in awe, quite honestly. You all have done so well so far. ::beams::
Thanks for the advice, Crunchy. I’ll e-mail in the future if I have to grab your attention again – just glad the courtesy phone worked. 
The courtesy phone didn’t work. I was surfing and looked in here, saw this thread had been bumped and had a peek. Otherwise, you’d all still be waiting on me, or just skipping me and having someone else start it.
belladonna, you can write … if I were browsing a bookstore’s shelves and found this novel you just started; I’d buy it. You can write.
jm
Well, the lion was all rouged up, you know–like it was dangerous in its artificial blushiness. Yeah, that’s it.
Grrrr. Fear my cosmetic constitution baby!
[sub]I was bound to botch up somewhere, someday I’ll learn to spell, probably, maybe…OK–more likely not[/sub]
I’m glad you enjoyed it though Yondan–I liked your’s too. Does every child on the face of the planet do that gradually escalating decible level when ignored? I’m eager to see where HerMajestyLorna goes with mine. I’m still a little afraid the P.O.V. might be a bit restrictive–but it just wasn’t flowing for me in third person, you know? You are too right about that paragraph of Crunchy’s–I laughed out loud with his whole “this one had been vacuumed” bit.
This is too much fun!
Next up
tavella
bobkitty
KAT
HerMajestyLorna
I’m thinking we’re all bound to see some unexpected tangents before much longer. HeeHeeHee.
nothamlet–my thanks. Unfortunately, my pieces have all seemed to taper off in my imagination before I hit novel dimensions. That’s why this is so perfect–shortish installments with regular infusions of fresh blood. Lovely!
bella
Nice job, Yondan and Jane D’oh!
Hm, now I’ve got to live up to this…
This took me back tavella. Well done!
Tavalla! Nicely done!
I think we have very consistent voice running through these installments so far. It’s very interesting to see one development, though. I am prone to using metaphorical language, while you and Jane seem less so inclined. The effect I think is a softening of the opening as Susan tries to get ready for her day. While the immediacy of both public and private tragedies is pushed into the back of her mind, I feel that the tension of those events is still very palpable, heavy with potential.
We make a good team! I’m really looking forward to what Tretiak has to offer.