I received a six sentence story from Michael Koester yesterday from most recently Nottingham, NH. Here it is for your enjoyment:
"I confess: I'm not from around here, or as the locals of local ancestry would say of me, "he's from away". I'm okay with that, and I wear it proudly. Because being "from away" carries with it an advantageous perspective, a capability to contrast characteristics (and characters!) of different places, cultures, and experiences known only to one who has lived in more than one. But to get along with, and earn the trust of the locals of local ancestry, I must moderate my expressions of that advantage. For to hint that there might be a better way will surely meet with fierce resistance, and firmly closed doors, and ultimately keep me from assimilating into this place. The true charm of a place can be it's most frustrating quality."
Here is a story of my own:
Will sat in the deep booth, the din of the bar made it impossible to make out what anyone was saying. He rubbed his Converse together, played with the small pink plastic straw in his rum and coke (he hadn't been too sure what to order, the list of beers was intimidating), and glanced at various women at the bar. A blonde with big white teeth was laughing and her hair bounced around her shoulders. A brunette with dark kohl eyeliner glanced his way and their eyes met as Will's heart slammed into his chest. His hands began to sweat as she walked towards; he imagined their wedding day. She said, "You look like you are from around here. I am looking for a friend of mine. She said that I should meet her at Luigi's Pizza. Do you know how I would get there?"
(I might be cheating on the last sentence!)
Keep writing! Tomorrow night I may post a belated "Sunday Writing Discussion."
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