Saturday, February 23, 2013

A Decision For Peter...A Short Story

Houston Skyline, from Old MKT Railroad Trestle over White Oak Bayou, near Studemont & I-10, Houston, Texas 0330090947BW

The Weekly Writing Prompt
 
I loved this week's writing prompt picture, even though I don't feel I did it justice. It's got so much character. If you'd like to participate in the writing prompt, it has a few rules. Here they are:

1) Use the photo and the 5 words provided in your story.2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.
3) You have until next Wednesday to link up your post.
4) Link up your story at these websites: Carrie's Site, Nicole's Site, and Leanne's Site.
5) Have fun, don't stress, let those creative juices flow.
 
This week's five words are:
 
Pocket Watch 
Cosmic
Ghost
Vegetable
Train

Enjoy!

A Decision For Peter

In the white light of morning Peter woke and looked east, toward the source of his pain. He fetched his pocket watch and checked the time. Late again.

He rose, showered, dressed and set out on his quest for validation. Maybe today will be the day where he exercised the ghosts of his past and set events in motion to hopefully secure success in the future. However, cosmic influences plagued Peter before. He expected their return.

Peter left his apartment and walked the four blocks to Chester Square where both train and bus allowed him access to the metropolis where a millions of dreams lived and died at any given moment. Should he take the train? Should he take a bus, or even hail a cab?

The man pondered the question. Like a vegetable he remained at the transportation hub...train? Bus? Train? Bus? Cab? Train? Train? Without inspiration the solitary man turned and walked the four long blocks back to his apartment where he entered and slept for the rest of the day.

Word Count: 177

2 comments:

  1. I had a powerful emotional experience reading this, Scott. I'm 43 and only just fully committed to writing in Jan 2012—I'd been on-again-off-again with screenplays for more than a decade; the "ons" brief, the "offs" extensive. I dropped screenplays in September and haven't looked back. I don't play the "what if" very often, but sometimes I wonder, and following that is a profound sorrow for the Writer In Me that I denied, and by my actions told him he was less important then so many insignificant things, and all the years he waited, broken-hearted yet still hoping, while I sat on my ass at the crossroads, lost in fear and indecision—my own "Bus or Train?"—then confounded and terrified,I would do as Peter did, breaking his heart further.
    Today I "write like a man possessed" as many have told me. I am! I am possessed with this burning desire to get everything out that I have to tell, because I am finally acutely aware that there is no tomorrow. The only day to write id Today, the only day we have. If I am gifted another, it too will be the only day I have to write.
    Powerful lesson in you piece, my friend. Thank you for opening up and writing from such a place honesty.

    ~Chris

    ReplyDelete
  2. I saw a lot in this piece Scott. For 500 words you've really set a mood, tone, and opened up a lot of possibilities for the the directions it could have gone had it been longer. I felt a familiarity with these emotions and I could tell you were really connected when you wrote it. Dangling your feet in the old swimming pool of the unconscious. Great Job.

    ReplyDelete