Monday, February 20, 2012

Street Corner


This caught my attention and I thought to myself, "Oh no...Is it that time already?  Yes, it's time for the First Campaign Challenge of the 4th campaign!  Here is the challenge:
Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. 
Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)include the word "orange" in the story.write in the same genre you normally write make your story 200 words exactly!

In a panic I searched through my notebook of scattered ideas and here is my entry:

 Street Corner

Shadows crept across the wall. She watched them in fascination as she swallowed the pills. Her orange nail polish was chipped, her stockings torn and her cheap dress barely clung to her body. She was mans' every tattered dream and not proud of it. Night after night she waited in the same shadows for someone or something else to come along. The cold and the hunger dodged her attention; all that remained real were the corners on the street in front of her and the sound of her breath. Tonight she felt lucky. There was something strange in the air, something else was coming, and when it turned the corner she caught her breath in surprise.

Beauty floated towards her on a haunting melody and everything stopped to listen. Rats held each others  tails; their meals still stuck in their teeth glistened in the streetlight. Foreign bugs stopped their chattering and sat quietly on the wet pavement. Even the air stopped breathing and yesterdays’ news clung to brick walls with ink stained pages. Beauty was no stranger to this street, its name was death and it knew where it was going as it approached her...so at last, everything faded.

42 comments:

Morgan said...

You have a unique style--it's great! Loved how the "rats held each other's tails" <--Little details like that are fun. I enjoyed this! I want to go "like" it, but couldn't find your link on the site--which entry number are you??? ;)

Kittie Howard said...

Yes, I agree with Morgan...where are you?

Jess said...

Ooh this is very interesting!! You had so much great imagery! Wonderful job!

I'm entry #19

kjmckendry said...

I like how you associated death with beauty...I wouldn't have thought of that. Very unique.

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed this. Liking now!

Gwen Gardner said...

Wonderful imagery - it reminded me of Neil Gaiman. Well done!

Krista McLaughlin said...

Wow... that was awesome! :)

Daisy Carter said...

Ooh, like that beauty is death. Didn't see it coming. What a unique view of things!

Morgan said...

Congratulations! Your piece has been shortlisted to advance to the quarter final round. Good luck!

Carrie Butler said...

I really like the way you described death. Very interesting! :)

Carrie-Anne said...

I loved all the descriptive language you used. I love the dark mood it sets.

I also tagged you at my blog.

Brenna said...

Hey there! New campaigner here finally making the rounds.

What a mysterious scene you wrote. Nicely descriptive and captivation.

Ann Cory said...

Good description - placed me right into the story. Well done!

Alyssa said...

I liked how you described death as beautiful! I really liked your descriptions too! :) Nice work!

I'm #37

Ainsley Shay said...

Great descriptions! enjoy it very much!

Nancy Thompson said...

Disturbing yet beautiful!

Jennie Bennett said...

So very tragic! Great job!

C.B. Wentworth said...

The descriptions in this are incredible and I love your original take on the prompt. Wow! :-)

sue said...

Oh! well done - man's tattered dream - enjoyed very much
I'm #103

Fairview said...

It kind of reminded me of an adult version of the Little match Girl. Nice imagery. Love that death is beauty.

J.C. Martin said...

What a poetic piece! Beauty in death ... lovely!

Nick Wilford said...

Very haunting. I liked the line about yesterday's news, it really captures an image of desolation and debris. And the revelation that it's death very nicely done. Great!

Elizabeth said...

Beautifully written.

Komal Kant said...

Your writing is so beautiful and unique. I really enjoyed your piece.

Alynza Smith said...

Very haunting and unique. Nice job. Good luck!

Deniz Bevan said...

Love the imagery in this piece. Very unexpected!

Amber Clites said...

So haunting and beautifully written!

Unknown said...

This was wonderful...oddly enough, or maybe not so, in the second paragraph, I felt so much serenity.

Rek Sesh said...

I loved the not normal description of approaching death...only the truly desperate find beauty in it...you managed to capture that so well.

Sally said...

Great writing - I loved the way everyone stopped and waited for the beauty of the end. I'm a new campaigner at #91.

Tara Tyler said...

so detailed! dramatic ending to a sad, lonely life.
great job!

Unknown said...

the orange chipped nail polish made me want to cry...i feel like a fairy tale is starting...would love to read more!

Skippy Bo Bippy said...

Wow, I love unique original writings in big blog hops, so often the stories run together, yours is totally original and very intriguing. Very enjoyable to read.

Anonymous said...

Very descriptive. nice job. mine is #71

Miranda Hardy said...

This is amazingly beautiful. The imagery of death was great.

alexia said...

Very unique. Nice job!

Unknown said...

"yesterdays’ news clung to brick walls with ink stained pages"
Love that line :-)

Unknown said...

Wow. I loved it. Great writing. Loved the imagery in this piece.

By the way, you've been tagged. Go to www.kscollier1.blogspot.com for your questions. It helps to let other campaigners get to know you better.

Traci Kenworth said...

Like you compared Death to Beauty.

Unknown said...

"yesterdays’ news clung to brick walls with ink stained pages" I agree with Rachel - liked this line.

Katie Dunn said...

Congratulations on being picked in the Random drawing! Contact me so that we can get your prize to you=)
kathleen dot doyle88 at yahoo dot com
ASAP please=)

Rod Tyson said...

Very atmospheric. Well done and congrats on winning the draw :) Please check your email for details on downloading your prize!
Best regards :)