Blind Date, by Jaelyn 11.7.13

This writer branched out from the original prompt (above) and
created a great inner dialogue!

This is going horrible! What should I do? Maybe I should find an excuse to leave, but when? I don't want him to know I'm desperate to leave, but I am! Hmmm, how could I leave without him knowing? Oh! I've got it! First I'll tell him I'm off to the bathroom. The bathroom is right next to the door. Then, I'll make a run for it straight out the door. But wait, what am I going to say to him the next day? It's not like I could just avoid him. OR COULD I? No. I'll need to make an excuse that I left or he'll know something's wrong. Wow. This is hard. Ok, I've got it. I'll tell him I had a horrible stomachache and I just couldn't face him. Yeah, that's the one! Alright, hopefully it works. Here I go!

It's a Small World: the Dark Side, by Erin 11.7.13

The boat was going quicker that it usually did. You would know. You've gone on this ride at least six times since you've come to the amusement park, and the boat is not supposed to go this fast. Raising your hand, you start to call out to the ride operator, but your mother quiets you, saying it's nothing to worry about. But you know it is, because the boat shouldn't be so fast and the breeze shouldn't be so cold. 

You turn into the tunnel, ready to embrace the music, but there is none. No paintings. No happy puppets. Just darkness and cold. You're wearing a t-shirt and shorts and you shiver.

The voice speaks from nowhere yet everywhere, low and lost silent, neither male nor female… just there, like a presence:

"Not all places are happy. Not all places have dancing puppets. For some children, they have nobody. No parents. No friends. Nothing but darkness and shadows and despair."

You try to scream but it's like you've lost your voice; turning to receive your mother's warm embrace you're horrified to discover she isn't even there. You're like the voice said -- alone. No one but the dark. The only warmth is the tears running down your face, and even they have frozen by now.

"Don't worry. You'll get out of here alive -- nonetheless, scarred for life -- but alive. Remember, little one, it can be a dark world after all."

Ahead of me I hear screams.

And all I can do is cry as the boat moves forward, still too fast.

New for November!

First, a writing prompt:

http://dsgroup.cd/2013/01/26/create-creatures-like-bobby-chiu-in-photoshop/

Beginners: What is this thing? Where does it live? What does it eat? What did it just do? What will it do next? And what's going on with all the little animals around it?

Advanced: You are this creature and you have a magnificent, delicious secret. What are you thinking right this moment? And what are you about to do to protect your secret?

Share it with us at twine(dot)scld@gmail.com and we'll post it here (see "Virtual Twine" in the sidebar to the right!)

Also, we've changed the look of our blog! Let us know if you like it (or not!) -- we're still in the tweaking stages and it might look a little different from day to day while we settle on its final design.

And finally, our next T.W.I.N.E. meetings are Thursday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. at Spokane Valley. Please join us! We're friendly, non-threatening, and love to talk writing.