just because I'm dressed like this
doesn't mean I'm a communist
---Billy Bragg
I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them
but they were only satellites
is it wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish I wish I wish you'd care
--Billy Bragg
Surprise surprise
valentine's day is over
it's over
---Billy Bragg
I cried there is no justice
as they led me out the door
the judge said
This isn't a court of justice son
this is a court of law
---Billy Bragg
In a perfect world we'd sing in tune
but this is reality so give me some room
--Billy Bragg
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Untitled Part 2
Act One
Scene Two
Lights
The stage is set as Annie's apartment. It is nicely decorated with a couch, two chairs, and several posters hang on the wall. Annie is cleaning up a little when a doorbell sounds off stage. She runs to off stage and we hear a door opening. Annie reenters followed by Malcolm, Daniel, and Mary.
Mary: Thank you so much for letting me stay with you tonight, I don't know what I would've done otherwise.
Annie: It is no trouble at all! I love having someone new to talk to.
Malcolm: You will soon find out that my sister likes to talk a lot.
Daniel: We tried to sew her mouth closed when we were in 4th grade and Annie was about six but Malcolm's mom stopped us.
Malcolm: She regretted it until the day she died.
Mary: Your mother's dead?
Malcolm: Yes she is.
Daniel: It was a very sad day. You see, she had made the mistake of asking Annie, who was in High School at the time, how school was that day...
Malcolm: And Annie kept talking and talking
Daniel: And talking and talking and talking.
Malcolm: Until finally....
Daniel: Three days later
Malcolm: She died of thirst.
Daniel: It was tragic.
Malcolm: Her last words were
Daniel: Please Jesus Make It Stop.
Malcolm: Make Annie Dumb
Daniel: If not for me than for the human race as a whole
Malcolm: Then she fell down dead
Mary giggles in a slightly guilty way, like she knows she shouldn't find it funny but does, and Annie throws a pillow at Daniel and Malcolm.
Annie: Shut up! Mary, don't listen to a word those two clowns say. My mother is alive and well. Would you like something to drink?
Mary: Yes thank you.
Annie: I have coke, coffee, tea, water, milk, wine, beer, what will it be?
Mary: I'll just have some milk, thank you.
Malcolm: I'll have a beer
Daniel: And I would like a coke.
Annie: I didn't offer a drink to you two.
Annie exits. Malcolm picks up a cd off the coffee table and looks at it. Daniel leans in and looks at it as well.
Daniel: Oh! The New Mellisa Etheridge album. I've heard that it's good.
Malcolm: It isn't.
Daniel: Really?
Malcolm: Yeah, a couple of catchy songs but nothing terrific.
Mary: I've heard about her! Do you know, do you know, that she's a, that she's a (as if saying a very dirty word) a lesbian?
Daniel: Um, yes....
Annie reenters. She hands Mary a glass of milk and tosses Malcolm a bottle of beer.
Malcolm: You're a dear Annie.
Annie(ignoring him, apologetically): Sorry Dan, I'm out of coke, so I'm making some coffee for you instead. It should be ready in a little bit.
Daniel: Ok, thanks, Annie. What do you think of this cd? I'm considering getting it.
Malcolm: Don't bother.
Mary: Didn't you hear what I said? She's a lesbian.
Daniel(a little perplexed): So?
Mary(confused, not aggressive): What do you mean “So”?
Daniel: I said I thought I might buy the album and you said that she's a lesbian as if that was a reason not to buy the album
Mary: Well it is.
Daniel: Um, how so?
Mary: Well, if you buy she'll get money.
Malcolm(a little bitterly): That is the way the music business is supposed to work, yes. Though it doesn't always.
Daniel: Why would I not want her to have money?
Mary: I've already told you: She's a lesbian.
Annie: Look guys, I think we should stop this conversation....
Malcolm: Yeah maybe we should.
Daniel: No we shouldn't. Mary, why would I not want a lesbian to have money?
Mary: Because then they will live longer.
Malcolm: Jesus Christ.
Mary(gasps): You just took the lord's name in vain!
Annie: Look, I really think that we should...
Daniel: Wait, what did you say your name was?
Mary: Mary Phelps.
Daniel: And you're in town with your family?
Mary: Yes.
Daniel: Oh My God.
Mary: Daniel! You just took the lord's name in vain! Get down on your knees and beg forgiveness, you to Malcolm.
Daniel: Malcolm, are you thinking what I am?
Malcolm: Yes I am.
Annie: I'm not.
Daniel: Mary, your family travels in buses, right?
Mary: Yes, I already told you that.
Malcolm: Think it through Annie.
Annie: Oh God Above.
Mary: Annie, you just...
Daniel: Mary are you perhaps in town to attend a funeral?
Malcolm: Gary Lockman's by any chance?
Mary: Yes, my family picketed his funeral.
Daniel(throwing up his hands and standing up): Wonderful, fantastic,
Annie: Dan...
Daniel: What are the chances, Malcolm, tell me what are the chances?!
Malcolm(sitting back and shaking his head): Probably pretty slim.
Annie: Guys.....
Daniel: I need to get out of here. I need....some space.
Daniel exits.
Mary: What was that about?
Malcolm: Mary, are you related to a minister named Fred Phelps.
Mary: Yes, he's my grandpa.
Malcolm: Ok, this is awkward
Mary: Why?
Annie: Well, Mary you see your grandfather stands for some things and believes some things that we.....um.....
Malcolm: Don't agree with.
Annie: Yes! He stands for and believes in things that we don't and....
Mary: What does he stand for that you disagree with?
Annie: Wellll....
Malcolm: His views on homosexuality primarily.
Mary: You like f.....
Annie: Don't say that word.
Mary: What, Fa...
Annie: Yes that one, don't say it.
Malcolm: Also we, that is Daniel, Annie, and I, don't really think that picketing people's funerals is in very good taste.
Mary: But he has to get the message out, I mean F....Homosexuals are bringing down God's wrath on the world. We have to stop them.
Malcolm(to Annie): I don't think that this is going to work.
Annie: Yeah....
Mary: Hold on....OH MY GOSH! She jumps up and tries to get as far away from Malcolm as possible I should have guessed it, us being in New York and all. You're a homosexual!
Malcolm: Who? Me or Annie?
Mary: You! Stay away from me! I know that you are more violent than a normal person.
Annie: What does us being in New York have to do with it?
Mary: New York is homosexual haven.
Annie: Really?
Mary: Yes.
Malcolm: Look, it's getting late. I'm going to go see if Dan is okay. I bid both of you ladies goodnight. As the Bard wrote “Parting is such sweet sorrow”. Adieu.
Annie: By Malcolm, call me in the morning.
Malcolm: Will do. Bye Mary.
He exits
Mary: I'm so glad that he's gone. Homosexuals scare me.
Annie(harshly): That's my brother you're talking about! And he's not even gay! I bet you haven't even met a gay person before! I swear to God you people drive me crazy! Look, Malcolm is right. It's late. The spare room is through that door. I'll talk to you in the morning.
Mary: Goodnight.
Annie: Yeah Whatever.
Annie exits
Mary stands alone, looking lost, alone, and scared. She turns around and exits.
Black
Scene Two
Lights
The stage is set as Annie's apartment. It is nicely decorated with a couch, two chairs, and several posters hang on the wall. Annie is cleaning up a little when a doorbell sounds off stage. She runs to off stage and we hear a door opening. Annie reenters followed by Malcolm, Daniel, and Mary.
Mary: Thank you so much for letting me stay with you tonight, I don't know what I would've done otherwise.
Annie: It is no trouble at all! I love having someone new to talk to.
Malcolm: You will soon find out that my sister likes to talk a lot.
Daniel: We tried to sew her mouth closed when we were in 4th grade and Annie was about six but Malcolm's mom stopped us.
Malcolm: She regretted it until the day she died.
Mary: Your mother's dead?
Malcolm: Yes she is.
Daniel: It was a very sad day. You see, she had made the mistake of asking Annie, who was in High School at the time, how school was that day...
Malcolm: And Annie kept talking and talking
Daniel: And talking and talking and talking.
Malcolm: Until finally....
Daniel: Three days later
Malcolm: She died of thirst.
Daniel: It was tragic.
Malcolm: Her last words were
Daniel: Please Jesus Make It Stop.
Malcolm: Make Annie Dumb
Daniel: If not for me than for the human race as a whole
Malcolm: Then she fell down dead
Mary giggles in a slightly guilty way, like she knows she shouldn't find it funny but does, and Annie throws a pillow at Daniel and Malcolm.
Annie: Shut up! Mary, don't listen to a word those two clowns say. My mother is alive and well. Would you like something to drink?
Mary: Yes thank you.
Annie: I have coke, coffee, tea, water, milk, wine, beer, what will it be?
Mary: I'll just have some milk, thank you.
Malcolm: I'll have a beer
Daniel: And I would like a coke.
Annie: I didn't offer a drink to you two.
Annie exits. Malcolm picks up a cd off the coffee table and looks at it. Daniel leans in and looks at it as well.
Daniel: Oh! The New Mellisa Etheridge album. I've heard that it's good.
Malcolm: It isn't.
Daniel: Really?
Malcolm: Yeah, a couple of catchy songs but nothing terrific.
Mary: I've heard about her! Do you know, do you know, that she's a, that she's a (as if saying a very dirty word) a lesbian?
Daniel: Um, yes....
Annie reenters. She hands Mary a glass of milk and tosses Malcolm a bottle of beer.
Malcolm: You're a dear Annie.
Annie(ignoring him, apologetically): Sorry Dan, I'm out of coke, so I'm making some coffee for you instead. It should be ready in a little bit.
Daniel: Ok, thanks, Annie. What do you think of this cd? I'm considering getting it.
Malcolm: Don't bother.
Mary: Didn't you hear what I said? She's a lesbian.
Daniel(a little perplexed): So?
Mary(confused, not aggressive): What do you mean “So”?
Daniel: I said I thought I might buy the album and you said that she's a lesbian as if that was a reason not to buy the album
Mary: Well it is.
Daniel: Um, how so?
Mary: Well, if you buy she'll get money.
Malcolm(a little bitterly): That is the way the music business is supposed to work, yes. Though it doesn't always.
Daniel: Why would I not want her to have money?
Mary: I've already told you: She's a lesbian.
Annie: Look guys, I think we should stop this conversation....
Malcolm: Yeah maybe we should.
Daniel: No we shouldn't. Mary, why would I not want a lesbian to have money?
Mary: Because then they will live longer.
Malcolm: Jesus Christ.
Mary(gasps): You just took the lord's name in vain!
Annie: Look, I really think that we should...
Daniel: Wait, what did you say your name was?
Mary: Mary Phelps.
Daniel: And you're in town with your family?
Mary: Yes.
Daniel: Oh My God.
Mary: Daniel! You just took the lord's name in vain! Get down on your knees and beg forgiveness, you to Malcolm.
Daniel: Malcolm, are you thinking what I am?
Malcolm: Yes I am.
Annie: I'm not.
Daniel: Mary, your family travels in buses, right?
Mary: Yes, I already told you that.
Malcolm: Think it through Annie.
Annie: Oh God Above.
Mary: Annie, you just...
Daniel: Mary are you perhaps in town to attend a funeral?
Malcolm: Gary Lockman's by any chance?
Mary: Yes, my family picketed his funeral.
Daniel(throwing up his hands and standing up): Wonderful, fantastic,
Annie: Dan...
Daniel: What are the chances, Malcolm, tell me what are the chances?!
Malcolm(sitting back and shaking his head): Probably pretty slim.
Annie: Guys.....
Daniel: I need to get out of here. I need....some space.
Daniel exits.
Mary: What was that about?
Malcolm: Mary, are you related to a minister named Fred Phelps.
Mary: Yes, he's my grandpa.
Malcolm: Ok, this is awkward
Mary: Why?
Annie: Well, Mary you see your grandfather stands for some things and believes some things that we.....um.....
Malcolm: Don't agree with.
Annie: Yes! He stands for and believes in things that we don't and....
Mary: What does he stand for that you disagree with?
Annie: Wellll....
Malcolm: His views on homosexuality primarily.
Mary: You like f.....
Annie: Don't say that word.
Mary: What, Fa...
Annie: Yes that one, don't say it.
Malcolm: Also we, that is Daniel, Annie, and I, don't really think that picketing people's funerals is in very good taste.
Mary: But he has to get the message out, I mean F....Homosexuals are bringing down God's wrath on the world. We have to stop them.
Malcolm(to Annie): I don't think that this is going to work.
Annie: Yeah....
Mary: Hold on....OH MY GOSH! She jumps up and tries to get as far away from Malcolm as possible I should have guessed it, us being in New York and all. You're a homosexual!
Malcolm: Who? Me or Annie?
Mary: You! Stay away from me! I know that you are more violent than a normal person.
Annie: What does us being in New York have to do with it?
Mary: New York is homosexual haven.
Annie: Really?
Mary: Yes.
Malcolm: Look, it's getting late. I'm going to go see if Dan is okay. I bid both of you ladies goodnight. As the Bard wrote “Parting is such sweet sorrow”. Adieu.
Annie: By Malcolm, call me in the morning.
Malcolm: Will do. Bye Mary.
He exits
Mary: I'm so glad that he's gone. Homosexuals scare me.
Annie(harshly): That's my brother you're talking about! And he's not even gay! I bet you haven't even met a gay person before! I swear to God you people drive me crazy! Look, Malcolm is right. It's late. The spare room is through that door. I'll talk to you in the morning.
Mary: Goodnight.
Annie: Yeah Whatever.
Annie exits
Mary stands alone, looking lost, alone, and scared. She turns around and exits.
Black
Friday, December 10, 2010
Untitled Part 1
Now that the House is finished it is time to start another serialized work. So I will serialize a currently untitled play script that I am working on. If you have title suggestions please suggest them.
Untitled
ACT ONE
Scene One
Curtain
A young woman of about 19 who is wearing a skirt and sensible top is walking through a street of storefronts looking very lost. She is followed by two men, both of who are clearly intoxicated, who are jeering at her.
Drunken Man #1: Come on then girly! We aren't so bad! Just give us a chance!
Drunken Man #2: Yeah, we're not that bad!
Mary: Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!
Drunken Man #1: Just give us a smile!
Drunken Man #2: Yeah, just a smile.
Malcolm and Daniel enter.
Mary: Leave me alone!
The men have caught up to Mary and one stands in front of her and the other stands behind her, blocking her whenever she tries to move. Malcolm and Daniel exchange glances and walk up to the men.
Malcolm(in a fake British accent): Evening gents.
Daniel: What seems to be the issue here?
Drunken Man #1: Walk away, man, it's nothing to do with you.
Drunken Man #2: Yeah! Walk Away!
Malcolm: You know, I think it might have something to do with us.
Drunken Man #1: How? She yours?
Daniel: Excuse me?
Malcolm: Dude seriously? Is she ours?
Drunken Man #1: Well is She? Cause she is a fine looking thing and if she isn't yours I just might...
Daniel slaps Drunken Man #1 across the face cutting him off. He staggers back and Drunken Man #2 walks forward.
Drunken Man #2: Hey....
Malcolm: Let me give you a piece of friendly advice: both of us have had a really really bad day so I would not push us.
Daniel: Why Don't Both of you just walk away.
Drunken Man #1: If you broke my nose, I'll call the cops on you!
Malcolm: If you can remember in the morning.
Daniel laughs,
Drunken Man #1: I'll call them right now!
He takes out a cell phone and Daniel grabs it. He tosses it to the ground and smashes it with his shoe.
Drunken Man #1: How dare you?!
He starts toward Daniel and Malcolm steps in front of the man.
Malcolm: Walk away fellas
Both drunken men look at Malcolm and decide that it is better to just leave. They try to walk off with dignity but end up staggering off.
Malcolm: And remember: Don't drive drunk!
Daniel laughs again and looks at Mary who is looking very scared
Daniel: Are you all right? Did they hurt you? Because if they did I'll call the cops on them. Just give me an excuse.
Mary: No I'm fine, just scared.
Malcolm: Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't look like you belong here.
Mary: I don't. I was in town with my family and I got separated.
Daniel: Do you have a cell? Because I could lend you one if you don't.
Mary: None of my family have cell phones.
Malcolm: Really? I didn't know that was possible in today's society.
Daniel: Do you know where they are staying?
Mary: They were going to head back tonight, I don't know what to do.
Daniel: They wouldn't have waited for you?
Mary: They would have assumed I was in one of the other buses.
Malcolm: Your family has to travel in multiple buses? That must be one big family.
Mary: It is.
Daniel: Malcolm do you think Annie would put her up tonight?
Malcolm: Probably.
Mary: I don't want any charity.
Malcolm: No it's cool my sister would probably like the company.
Daniel: Do you want to call her while I go pull the car around?
Malcolm: Yeah. What did you say your name was?
Mary: I'm Mary Phelps.
Malcolm: Nice to meet you, I'm Malcolm Jacobs.
Daniel: And I'm Daniel Nelson.
Mary: Thank you both very much for all you're doing.
Daniel: Least we could do.
Malcolm(on his phone): Annie, hey its me. Ok so you will never guess what happened to me and Daniel as we were walking back home.....
Black out
Untitled
ACT ONE
Scene One
Curtain
A young woman of about 19 who is wearing a skirt and sensible top is walking through a street of storefronts looking very lost. She is followed by two men, both of who are clearly intoxicated, who are jeering at her.
Drunken Man #1: Come on then girly! We aren't so bad! Just give us a chance!
Drunken Man #2: Yeah, we're not that bad!
Mary: Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!
Drunken Man #1: Just give us a smile!
Drunken Man #2: Yeah, just a smile.
Malcolm and Daniel enter.
Mary: Leave me alone!
The men have caught up to Mary and one stands in front of her and the other stands behind her, blocking her whenever she tries to move. Malcolm and Daniel exchange glances and walk up to the men.
Malcolm(in a fake British accent): Evening gents.
Daniel: What seems to be the issue here?
Drunken Man #1: Walk away, man, it's nothing to do with you.
Drunken Man #2: Yeah! Walk Away!
Malcolm: You know, I think it might have something to do with us.
Drunken Man #1: How? She yours?
Daniel: Excuse me?
Malcolm: Dude seriously? Is she ours?
Drunken Man #1: Well is She? Cause she is a fine looking thing and if she isn't yours I just might...
Daniel slaps Drunken Man #1 across the face cutting him off. He staggers back and Drunken Man #2 walks forward.
Drunken Man #2: Hey....
Malcolm: Let me give you a piece of friendly advice: both of us have had a really really bad day so I would not push us.
Daniel: Why Don't Both of you just walk away.
Drunken Man #1: If you broke my nose, I'll call the cops on you!
Malcolm: If you can remember in the morning.
Daniel laughs,
Drunken Man #1: I'll call them right now!
He takes out a cell phone and Daniel grabs it. He tosses it to the ground and smashes it with his shoe.
Drunken Man #1: How dare you?!
He starts toward Daniel and Malcolm steps in front of the man.
Malcolm: Walk away fellas
Both drunken men look at Malcolm and decide that it is better to just leave. They try to walk off with dignity but end up staggering off.
Malcolm: And remember: Don't drive drunk!
Daniel laughs again and looks at Mary who is looking very scared
Daniel: Are you all right? Did they hurt you? Because if they did I'll call the cops on them. Just give me an excuse.
Mary: No I'm fine, just scared.
Malcolm: Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't look like you belong here.
Mary: I don't. I was in town with my family and I got separated.
Daniel: Do you have a cell? Because I could lend you one if you don't.
Mary: None of my family have cell phones.
Malcolm: Really? I didn't know that was possible in today's society.
Daniel: Do you know where they are staying?
Mary: They were going to head back tonight, I don't know what to do.
Daniel: They wouldn't have waited for you?
Mary: They would have assumed I was in one of the other buses.
Malcolm: Your family has to travel in multiple buses? That must be one big family.
Mary: It is.
Daniel: Malcolm do you think Annie would put her up tonight?
Malcolm: Probably.
Mary: I don't want any charity.
Malcolm: No it's cool my sister would probably like the company.
Daniel: Do you want to call her while I go pull the car around?
Malcolm: Yeah. What did you say your name was?
Mary: I'm Mary Phelps.
Malcolm: Nice to meet you, I'm Malcolm Jacobs.
Daniel: And I'm Daniel Nelson.
Mary: Thank you both very much for all you're doing.
Daniel: Least we could do.
Malcolm(on his phone): Annie, hey its me. Ok so you will never guess what happened to me and Daniel as we were walking back home.....
Black out
The House Part 41
Acknowledgements and Author's Note
Yes I know. That was a really weird and pretty bad ending. But it had to end and all will be explained in the sequel which will be written once I think up a plot for it. But it will involve aliens and cats and food and politics and awesomeness. Now I have to thank some people
Obviously the first people I want to thank are my family for giving me life and being behind me for this process of writing a novel in 30 days also if I did not thank them first my mother would probably hire a hit man to track me down and kill me and I quite like life. I also want to thank my friends and specifically my writers' group and my old Mock Newbery Book Club for making me both a better writer and a better person and also for giving me people to name characters after.
This book has numerous characters who are named after friends of mine but I only intentionally from the outset based one character on someone I know and that character is Margret. Margret is based on a girl who I was in a play with and, a few weeks into rehearsals, I had a dream outlining the basic premises for this book. I greatly changed it during the writing process but one character from that dream always stuck with me and that character was Margret who, in the dream, took the appearance of this girl who I was in this play with and didn't know very well.
As the play rehearsals progressed I got to know the girl much better and I realized that she was not the dark and mysterious girl who Margret was originally going to be but rather a nice, happy, funny girl who I then tried to convert Margret into.
I also want to mention two of my other friends who I named characters in the novel off of and who I probably need to apologize to. Brien May and Ben September were named after two of probably the kindest people who I know and two people who I like a great deal. So(because I'm such a great friend) I decided to put them in the book originally as the semi-villains. Yeah I know I'm strange.
Anyway, originally Brien was going to be a raving lunatic and I was going to try and get the reader to despise him with a burning passion. But then I came down sick.
While I was sick I laid in bed and did two things: watch legal dramas and play tetris. When I first was sick I tried to work on this book but I wasn't able to concentrate enough. But I did write a little. And the legal drama tv show that I was watching obsessively seeped into the dialogue that I was writing and Brien began to sound like a prosecuting lawyer.
Now I recovered as most people who are sick do and sat down to get some serious writing done. I continued to write the scene right after Philip's death. As I was writing I realized more and more that Brien had some really good points to make and was a much more interesting character than I originally thought he would be and that is when the story began to spin out of control.
To some writers that might be a terrible thing. And maybe it was, but I sort of liked it. I think that it made it more surprising and more natural. Or maybe it is just impossible to follow, who knows.
Anyway I need to thank Brien and Ben for, hopefully, being good sports. You see, I haven't exactly told Brien yet and Ben was a little annoyed when I told him but he hasn't read the book yet so I'm hoping that he will change his mind..
I also want to thank various music artists who got me through this writing process. The main ones that jump to mind are Billy Bragg(who is the best live act who I have ever seen, he is also probably the fourth live act who I have ever seen so that might not be saying much, but he was fantastically great. And his recorded stuff is also amazing), Matt Nathanson(who can write some really sad love songs and is also hilarious live), Steven Soundheim(who has written some of the best show tunes ever), The Hold Steady(who's acoustic version of Hurricane J is so awesome that I listened to it like twelve times in a row) , Pete Seeger(who's cover of the song What Did You Learn In School Today, originally by Tom Paxton, I have listened to an obscene amount of times), Bad Religion(who wrote a song called Sorrow which I have listened to like thirty times in a row. In case you have not noticed I like to listen to certain songs over and over again), Rise Against(who are good both as a hardcore punk band that screams all the time and as a acoustic band), Stephen Schwartz(who wrote Wicked, do I need to say more?), Steve Earle(who wrote the song The Devils Right Hand which I have listened to....yep you guessed it! An obscene amount of times), Screeching Weasel(who wrote a song called Cool Kids which I...like ok..but seriously have much fun is it to say the words Screeching Weasel, go on say it...come on...ok yeah tell me that isn't fun) and so many others that I can't even think of their names. I also want to thank the websites Grooveshark and Youtube for keeping me in music for this month and, hopefully, for the rest of my life.
I also wish to thank some of my favorite authors for just being so darn awesome. They include, in no particular order: Vivien Vande Velde(Who wrote one of my all time favorite books, Heir Apparent, which I sort of ripped off with the ending of The House and I am not going to apologize because I really sort of hope that she sues me and I'll get to meet her in court.), Janette Rallison(who's books showed me how to write sweet teenage romance), Nick Hornby(who is just great in how he balances the sadness of his plots with humor), Megan Whalen Turner(Who I referenced with the Order Makes Me and I Make Order line. Funny little anecdote here that I will share with you despite the fact that you will probably will not find it funny and almost certainly think that it is self serving and egotistical{I am counting this author's note in the word count as I desperately try to get to 50,000, so I am trying to talk as much as possible. So before I share the possibly hilarious short little story which took place in my life let me say that I wish to thank you from the bottom of my deep deep deep heart and I would also like to quote the incredibly wise Charles Dickens[who I will speak about in a moment] he wrote at the beginning of his masterpiece[which I have never actually read but there are a great deal of words in this paragraph] The Tale Of Two Cities, and this is a direct quote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”} Anyway, I once met her editor at the American Library Association Summer Conference and I totally geeked out. I started threatening her because Megan Whalen Turned publishes all her books so slowly. I then told her to tell Megan Whalen Turner, remember that this was her editor I was yelling at, that I would pay her to write more and she replied “I do pay her”) David Levithan(who is just plain hilarious and is also quite touching. His Are We There Yet is one of the scariest books that I have ever read and Boy meets Boy is one the most interesting. He also showed me that one can write sweet teen touching romance, whether it's gay or straight, without making it too clichéd), Brandon Sanderson(who wrote the Alcatraz books which work both as comedy and as science fiction) Charles Dickens(who gave me so much song writing material and who I just ripped off to bump up my word count) Aaron Sorkin(who is simply one of the best, if not the the best, dialogue writers around. Quite possibly my favorite writer), William Shakespeare(who, among other things, wrote my favorite play, Romeo and Juliet), Suzanne Collins(who changed Young Adult Literature for the better), Agatha Christie(who always kept you on your toes and surprised you at the end) JK Rowling(who is amazing and deserves every penny that she has made and probably more. I watched the Deathly Hallows Part One while I was writing the House and it greatly influenced me. {I also have a really pathetic crush on Emma Watson who plays the character of Hermione Grange. who's favorite book, I found out, is the Little Prince which I happened to have just been in a stage production of. So hey, I can think of much worse things to build a relationship on}).
I also feel the need to mention several tv shows that either helped me get through this month or are just plain awesome and need more viewers. They are The Practice(which is where I got all the legal stuff), The Daily Show(which I spent hours watching while I wrote. In fact, even as I write this now I am watching Jon Stewart, he truly is hilarious), Psych(I watch it at least once a week, it never gets old), Glee(which is purely mindless not always fun but...well I like about one actor in it and that is about it. So I am not totally sure why it is listed here. But it is words which I need), Fawlty Towers(John Cleese is fantastic. Enough said), Babylon Five(a really really good and complex science fiction show.), Agatha Christie's Poirot(David Suchet is fantastic as my favorite detective), Sherlock(a new detective show which updates Sherlock Holmes very well for my generation) Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip(Matthew Perry, Aaron Sorkin, Bradley Whitiford, tv comedy, and all the other fantastic actors who's name I cannot remember, do I need to say any more? I think that I do not), Sports Night(fantastic cast, Aaron Sorkin, and...well, awesomeness), Doctor Who(if you have never heard of Doctor Who I do not even want to talk to you), Family Ties(Michael J Fox as a far right republican and some clever writing, need I say more? Maybe but I can't think of anything else to say it's been about a year since I watched it and....well...word count.), Friends(good cast, decent writing, it's light and fun, deal with it), and The West Wing(we in the tv fandom have a special nickname for this show. We call it pure perfection).
I realize that I have just spent a great deal of time writing something that only about four people will ever read, but hey it's words to add to the old word count. Cheers, ESB
Yes I know. That was a really weird and pretty bad ending. But it had to end and all will be explained in the sequel which will be written once I think up a plot for it. But it will involve aliens and cats and food and politics and awesomeness. Now I have to thank some people
Obviously the first people I want to thank are my family for giving me life and being behind me for this process of writing a novel in 30 days also if I did not thank them first my mother would probably hire a hit man to track me down and kill me and I quite like life. I also want to thank my friends and specifically my writers' group and my old Mock Newbery Book Club for making me both a better writer and a better person and also for giving me people to name characters after.
This book has numerous characters who are named after friends of mine but I only intentionally from the outset based one character on someone I know and that character is Margret. Margret is based on a girl who I was in a play with and, a few weeks into rehearsals, I had a dream outlining the basic premises for this book. I greatly changed it during the writing process but one character from that dream always stuck with me and that character was Margret who, in the dream, took the appearance of this girl who I was in this play with and didn't know very well.
As the play rehearsals progressed I got to know the girl much better and I realized that she was not the dark and mysterious girl who Margret was originally going to be but rather a nice, happy, funny girl who I then tried to convert Margret into.
I also want to mention two of my other friends who I named characters in the novel off of and who I probably need to apologize to. Brien May and Ben September were named after two of probably the kindest people who I know and two people who I like a great deal. So(because I'm such a great friend) I decided to put them in the book originally as the semi-villains. Yeah I know I'm strange.
Anyway, originally Brien was going to be a raving lunatic and I was going to try and get the reader to despise him with a burning passion. But then I came down sick.
While I was sick I laid in bed and did two things: watch legal dramas and play tetris. When I first was sick I tried to work on this book but I wasn't able to concentrate enough. But I did write a little. And the legal drama tv show that I was watching obsessively seeped into the dialogue that I was writing and Brien began to sound like a prosecuting lawyer.
Now I recovered as most people who are sick do and sat down to get some serious writing done. I continued to write the scene right after Philip's death. As I was writing I realized more and more that Brien had some really good points to make and was a much more interesting character than I originally thought he would be and that is when the story began to spin out of control.
To some writers that might be a terrible thing. And maybe it was, but I sort of liked it. I think that it made it more surprising and more natural. Or maybe it is just impossible to follow, who knows.
Anyway I need to thank Brien and Ben for, hopefully, being good sports. You see, I haven't exactly told Brien yet and Ben was a little annoyed when I told him but he hasn't read the book yet so I'm hoping that he will change his mind..
I also want to thank various music artists who got me through this writing process. The main ones that jump to mind are Billy Bragg(who is the best live act who I have ever seen, he is also probably the fourth live act who I have ever seen so that might not be saying much, but he was fantastically great. And his recorded stuff is also amazing), Matt Nathanson(who can write some really sad love songs and is also hilarious live), Steven Soundheim(who has written some of the best show tunes ever), The Hold Steady(who's acoustic version of Hurricane J is so awesome that I listened to it like twelve times in a row) , Pete Seeger(who's cover of the song What Did You Learn In School Today, originally by Tom Paxton, I have listened to an obscene amount of times), Bad Religion(who wrote a song called Sorrow which I have listened to like thirty times in a row. In case you have not noticed I like to listen to certain songs over and over again), Rise Against(who are good both as a hardcore punk band that screams all the time and as a acoustic band), Stephen Schwartz(who wrote Wicked, do I need to say more?), Steve Earle(who wrote the song The Devils Right Hand which I have listened to....yep you guessed it! An obscene amount of times), Screeching Weasel(who wrote a song called Cool Kids which I...like ok..but seriously have much fun is it to say the words Screeching Weasel, go on say it...come on...ok yeah tell me that isn't fun) and so many others that I can't even think of their names. I also want to thank the websites Grooveshark and Youtube for keeping me in music for this month and, hopefully, for the rest of my life.
I also wish to thank some of my favorite authors for just being so darn awesome. They include, in no particular order: Vivien Vande Velde(Who wrote one of my all time favorite books, Heir Apparent, which I sort of ripped off with the ending of The House and I am not going to apologize because I really sort of hope that she sues me and I'll get to meet her in court.), Janette Rallison(who's books showed me how to write sweet teenage romance), Nick Hornby(who is just great in how he balances the sadness of his plots with humor), Megan Whalen Turner(Who I referenced with the Order Makes Me and I Make Order line. Funny little anecdote here that I will share with you despite the fact that you will probably will not find it funny and almost certainly think that it is self serving and egotistical{I am counting this author's note in the word count as I desperately try to get to 50,000, so I am trying to talk as much as possible. So before I share the possibly hilarious short little story which took place in my life let me say that I wish to thank you from the bottom of my deep deep deep heart and I would also like to quote the incredibly wise Charles Dickens[who I will speak about in a moment] he wrote at the beginning of his masterpiece[which I have never actually read but there are a great deal of words in this paragraph] The Tale Of Two Cities, and this is a direct quote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”} Anyway, I once met her editor at the American Library Association Summer Conference and I totally geeked out. I started threatening her because Megan Whalen Turned publishes all her books so slowly. I then told her to tell Megan Whalen Turner, remember that this was her editor I was yelling at, that I would pay her to write more and she replied “I do pay her”) David Levithan(who is just plain hilarious and is also quite touching. His Are We There Yet is one of the scariest books that I have ever read and Boy meets Boy is one the most interesting. He also showed me that one can write sweet teen touching romance, whether it's gay or straight, without making it too clichéd), Brandon Sanderson(who wrote the Alcatraz books which work both as comedy and as science fiction) Charles Dickens(who gave me so much song writing material and who I just ripped off to bump up my word count) Aaron Sorkin(who is simply one of the best, if not the the best, dialogue writers around. Quite possibly my favorite writer), William Shakespeare(who, among other things, wrote my favorite play, Romeo and Juliet), Suzanne Collins(who changed Young Adult Literature for the better), Agatha Christie(who always kept you on your toes and surprised you at the end) JK Rowling(who is amazing and deserves every penny that she has made and probably more. I watched the Deathly Hallows Part One while I was writing the House and it greatly influenced me. {I also have a really pathetic crush on Emma Watson who plays the character of Hermione Grange. who's favorite book, I found out, is the Little Prince which I happened to have just been in a stage production of. So hey, I can think of much worse things to build a relationship on}).
I also feel the need to mention several tv shows that either helped me get through this month or are just plain awesome and need more viewers. They are The Practice(which is where I got all the legal stuff), The Daily Show(which I spent hours watching while I wrote. In fact, even as I write this now I am watching Jon Stewart, he truly is hilarious), Psych(I watch it at least once a week, it never gets old), Glee(which is purely mindless not always fun but...well I like about one actor in it and that is about it. So I am not totally sure why it is listed here. But it is words which I need), Fawlty Towers(John Cleese is fantastic. Enough said), Babylon Five(a really really good and complex science fiction show.), Agatha Christie's Poirot(David Suchet is fantastic as my favorite detective), Sherlock(a new detective show which updates Sherlock Holmes very well for my generation) Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip(Matthew Perry, Aaron Sorkin, Bradley Whitiford, tv comedy, and all the other fantastic actors who's name I cannot remember, do I need to say any more? I think that I do not), Sports Night(fantastic cast, Aaron Sorkin, and...well, awesomeness), Doctor Who(if you have never heard of Doctor Who I do not even want to talk to you), Family Ties(Michael J Fox as a far right republican and some clever writing, need I say more? Maybe but I can't think of anything else to say it's been about a year since I watched it and....well...word count.), Friends(good cast, decent writing, it's light and fun, deal with it), and The West Wing(we in the tv fandom have a special nickname for this show. We call it pure perfection).
I realize that I have just spent a great deal of time writing something that only about four people will ever read, but hey it's words to add to the old word count. Cheers, ESB
The House Part 40
Chapter Six in which Margret wakes up
Darkness surrounded Margret. She did not know how long she had been awake. It could have been 30 seconds it could have been 30 minutes it could have been 30 hours all there was darkness and a strange clicking. She was not sure where she was but she knew that it was very big and totally empty except for her and whatever was making the peculiar clicking noise. Suddenly, out of the darkness came a familiar voice.
“Hello Margret.” The voice said, “It's been a while.”
“What?!” Margret said, turning her head sharply towards the direction which the voice had come from, “You're, you're, you're dead!”
“True.” A different but equally familiar voice said, from a totally different direction, “But then, so am I.”
“You see Margret,” A third voice said from right behind Margret. This voice was the most familiar of them all and the sound of it almost gave Margret a heart attack, “There are more things going on in the House than even the Master Computer knows.”
“How,” Margret asked, suddenly regaining the ability to speak, “Are you all still alive?”
“That is a very, very long story.” Philip said leaning into Margret's ear, “But one that I think you will enjoy.”
End of Book One
Darkness surrounded Margret. She did not know how long she had been awake. It could have been 30 seconds it could have been 30 minutes it could have been 30 hours all there was darkness and a strange clicking. She was not sure where she was but she knew that it was very big and totally empty except for her and whatever was making the peculiar clicking noise. Suddenly, out of the darkness came a familiar voice.
“Hello Margret.” The voice said, “It's been a while.”
“What?!” Margret said, turning her head sharply towards the direction which the voice had come from, “You're, you're, you're dead!”
“True.” A different but equally familiar voice said, from a totally different direction, “But then, so am I.”
“You see Margret,” A third voice said from right behind Margret. This voice was the most familiar of them all and the sound of it almost gave Margret a heart attack, “There are more things going on in the House than even the Master Computer knows.”
“How,” Margret asked, suddenly regaining the ability to speak, “Are you all still alive?”
“That is a very, very long story.” Philip said leaning into Margret's ear, “But one that I think you will enjoy.”
End of Book One
The House Part 39
Chapter Five in which Brien finds something very strange at One One Eight Hawthorn Lane
Brien ran through the streets looking around as he went. He finally stopped at the town square. He looked around wildly.
“How in the name of God,” He said to himself, “Does one get to Hawthorn Lane?”
“Go down Kinshasha road, turn right at Volstead Drive, and then take another right at Kilimanjaro Avenue.”
“Excuse me?” Brien said, looking around.
“Go Down Kinshasha road, turn right at Volstead Drive, the take another right at Kilimanjaro Avenue.”
Brien turned around and around but he could not see anyone.
“Hello?” He said, “Is anyone here?”
“Just go. You need to see what is there.”
“Ok,” Brien said, “Um, thank you.”
“Don't mention it. Now, go.” Brien took off running. He sped down Kinshasha road and took a very fast right at Volstead drive. He ran down that road for about two minutes and then he saw the sign for Kilimanjaro Avenue and turned onto it the first street sign he saw was one for Hawthorn lane. Brien slowed to a walk.
How was he going to do this? Just walk up, knock on the door, and say what? “Hello I'm sorry but my friend just shot your daughter and she wants to see you before she dies.” He located one hundred and eighteen and walked up to the door. He sighed and knocked. He waited a while and, as no one had come to answer the door, he knocked again. Still no one answered. Brien tried to the door knob and it turned. Brien pushed the door open and looked around. The downstairs was dark but upstairs there appeared to be a light on. Brien called up.
“Hello?” He said walking up the stairs, “Is anyone here? Hello?” He walked up to the room with a light on and knocked on the door. The door swung open of its own accord and Brien saw that the room had no one in it. He sighed and was about to turn around when something caught his eye.
In the corner of the room there was a cluster of boxes. On top of the boxes was a machine with a light on top that flashed on and off. On and off. It entranced Brien and he walked toward it. He stretched out his hand and touched it.
“Hello Brien.”
Brien spun around and stared in shock.
“Miss me?”
“What are you doing here?” Brien asked his jaw almost hitting the floor.
“Talking to you, I would think that that would be fairly obvious. Really Brien without me you are kind of out of it.”
“You got shot.” Brien said, staring, “I saw the life drain out of you.”
“Yes you did.”
“Then,” Brien said, “How in the name of all that is holy are you here?”
“Funny you should ask that.”
“Isn't it.”
“It is.”
“Seriously,” Brien said, “How are you here?”
“It might take a while.”
“I have time.” Brien said.
“No you don't Brien. Lord Almighty, there is a girl laying in the snow dying who needs her mother.”
“She is just a computer program!” Brien protested, “She doesn't matter!”
“Are you one hundred percent sure that she is a computer program?”
“Yes!” Brien said, throwing up his arms, “Yes she is a computer program.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Brien said angrily, “For the Lord's sake! I am one hundred freaking percent sure that she is a computer program?”
“Well, that presents a problem.”
“How so?” Brien asked dismissively
“Seriously Brien? Seriously?”
“Oh My God.” Brien said, his eyes going wide “Is she real?”
“Yep.”
“Lord.” Brien said, looking around wildly, “but...but how?”
“I will explain later but right now you need to get the girl her mother.”
“I don't know where she is.” Brien said helplessly.
“She is in the next room. She won't give you any trouble and when you get back to the girl Lara and Allison will be there. Once she has begun recovering come back here and I will explain. Now go.”
“Ok.” Brien said, nodding, “I'll be back in a little bit.”
“See you then.”
Brien turned and walked out the door. He went into the very next room and found everything was as he had been told it would be.
Brien ran through the streets looking around as he went. He finally stopped at the town square. He looked around wildly.
“How in the name of God,” He said to himself, “Does one get to Hawthorn Lane?”
“Go down Kinshasha road, turn right at Volstead Drive, and then take another right at Kilimanjaro Avenue.”
“Excuse me?” Brien said, looking around.
“Go Down Kinshasha road, turn right at Volstead Drive, the take another right at Kilimanjaro Avenue.”
Brien turned around and around but he could not see anyone.
“Hello?” He said, “Is anyone here?”
“Just go. You need to see what is there.”
“Ok,” Brien said, “Um, thank you.”
“Don't mention it. Now, go.” Brien took off running. He sped down Kinshasha road and took a very fast right at Volstead drive. He ran down that road for about two minutes and then he saw the sign for Kilimanjaro Avenue and turned onto it the first street sign he saw was one for Hawthorn lane. Brien slowed to a walk.
How was he going to do this? Just walk up, knock on the door, and say what? “Hello I'm sorry but my friend just shot your daughter and she wants to see you before she dies.” He located one hundred and eighteen and walked up to the door. He sighed and knocked. He waited a while and, as no one had come to answer the door, he knocked again. Still no one answered. Brien tried to the door knob and it turned. Brien pushed the door open and looked around. The downstairs was dark but upstairs there appeared to be a light on. Brien called up.
“Hello?” He said walking up the stairs, “Is anyone here? Hello?” He walked up to the room with a light on and knocked on the door. The door swung open of its own accord and Brien saw that the room had no one in it. He sighed and was about to turn around when something caught his eye.
In the corner of the room there was a cluster of boxes. On top of the boxes was a machine with a light on top that flashed on and off. On and off. It entranced Brien and he walked toward it. He stretched out his hand and touched it.
“Hello Brien.”
Brien spun around and stared in shock.
“Miss me?”
“What are you doing here?” Brien asked his jaw almost hitting the floor.
“Talking to you, I would think that that would be fairly obvious. Really Brien without me you are kind of out of it.”
“You got shot.” Brien said, staring, “I saw the life drain out of you.”
“Yes you did.”
“Then,” Brien said, “How in the name of all that is holy are you here?”
“Funny you should ask that.”
“Isn't it.”
“It is.”
“Seriously,” Brien said, “How are you here?”
“It might take a while.”
“I have time.” Brien said.
“No you don't Brien. Lord Almighty, there is a girl laying in the snow dying who needs her mother.”
“She is just a computer program!” Brien protested, “She doesn't matter!”
“Are you one hundred percent sure that she is a computer program?”
“Yes!” Brien said, throwing up his arms, “Yes she is a computer program.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Brien said angrily, “For the Lord's sake! I am one hundred freaking percent sure that she is a computer program?”
“Well, that presents a problem.”
“How so?” Brien asked dismissively
“Seriously Brien? Seriously?”
“Oh My God.” Brien said, his eyes going wide “Is she real?”
“Yep.”
“Lord.” Brien said, looking around wildly, “but...but how?”
“I will explain later but right now you need to get the girl her mother.”
“I don't know where she is.” Brien said helplessly.
“She is in the next room. She won't give you any trouble and when you get back to the girl Lara and Allison will be there. Once she has begun recovering come back here and I will explain. Now go.”
“Ok.” Brien said, nodding, “I'll be back in a little bit.”
“See you then.”
Brien turned and walked out the door. He went into the very next room and found everything was as he had been told it would be.
The House Part 38
Chapter Four in which Matthew meets Marc and Brien and Marc does something terrible
“You killed a police officer?” Brien asked Marc in disbelief as soon as the door was shut.
“And two others, yeah.” Marc said.
“Lord Almighty Marc, what in blazes were you thinking?!” Brien demanded
“It spun out of control.” Marc said, blowing into his hands.
“You don't say.” Brien said sarcastically.
“I woke up in the snow,” Marc explained, “And then this cop comes up and starts shooting at me. I hid and waited for him to go away and then this other cop comes out of nowhere and starts shooting me. So I take him out and then two other people come out and start yelling at me so I take them out as well.” Brien shook his head and they continued to walk.
“Marc!” Someone hissed at them. Both Marc and Brien turned their heads towards the voice and saw a man huddled on the ground beckoning to them. The man was dressed in rags with cloth covering his face and, Brien saw with a start, holding a gun. Marc drew his gun and pointed it at the man.
“What are you?” Marc asked warily, “I mean, who are you?”
“I'm Matthew!” The man said exasperated, “Lord Marc!” He stood up and unwrapped the scarf from his face. Once the cloth came off both Brien and Marc could see that it was in fact Matthew.
“Sorry about that Matt.” Marc said putting the gun back in his coat pocket. “I'm a little on edge today, you see I am being hunted down by the cops because I shot and killed three innocent people.”
“That's nice.” Matthew said looking around.
“Brien, where is Lara, Allison, and Margret?” He demanded, looking at Brien.
“I don't know!” Brien said indignantly, “Why are you asking me?” Matthew opened his mouth to answer and was hit from behind. He cried out and fell backwards, blood dripping down his back. Marc drew his gun and began to fire in the direction that the attack must have come from. He fired six bullets in rapid succession and stopped.
“Dear lord!” He swore and ran over to the people he was shooting at. Brien followed him stopping short when he saw the bodies .
“What did you do?!” He demanded, turning on Marc in a fury. There were three bodies laying in the snow, two males one female. All three of them were children. The oldest, one of the boys, was no older than sixteen and the youngest, the other boy, was no older than ten.
“I thought they were firing at us.” Marc said, running a hand through his hair.
“They were freaking kids!!!” Brien roared, grabbing Marc by the lapels of his jacket and pushing him up against one of the walls, “It didn't seem strange to you that a bunch of kids would be shooting at us?”
“It was instinct!” Marc protested, pushing Brien's hands away, “Matt was hit so I reacted.”
“Think before you shoot!” Brien spat and turned around. He walked back to the bodies and bent down. The girl was still alive but she was seriously wounded and was crying in pain.
“What do you need?” Brien asked, “Tell me what you need and I will get it for you.”
“I want...” The girl said, tears running down her face, “I want my mom, bring me my mom.”
“Tell me where she lives.” Brien said, fighting back tears of his own “Tell me where she lives and I will get her.”
“One.” The girl said, “One. Eight. Hawthorn Lane.”
“I'll be back.” Brien said standing up, “Hang on.” Brien walked back over to Marc and hissed in his ear.
“Find Lara or when I come back you will be the one laying on the ground bleeding.” He turned and began to walk off when Marc's voice stopped him.
“For God's sake Brien, they are just computer programs!” He said venomously, “They can't feel!” He walked over and drew his foot back to kick the girl in the head to prove his point. Before he could kick her however Brien punched him in the face.
Marc fell backwards into the snow and Brien kicked him in the side. Marc doubled up and Brien bent down so that his face was an inch from Marc's.
“Did that hurt?” Brien asked calmly.
“Look,” Marc coughed, “Brien, I'm sorry. I was...I was an idiot. I am sorry I didn't mean to shoot them, I don't shoot kids, Lord, I don't shoot cops. I don't shoot people, I have only fought in like three battles for the entire war. I..I am very truly sorry. I will go try to find Lara.”
“Good.” Brien said and walked off.
“You killed a police officer?” Brien asked Marc in disbelief as soon as the door was shut.
“And two others, yeah.” Marc said.
“Lord Almighty Marc, what in blazes were you thinking?!” Brien demanded
“It spun out of control.” Marc said, blowing into his hands.
“You don't say.” Brien said sarcastically.
“I woke up in the snow,” Marc explained, “And then this cop comes up and starts shooting at me. I hid and waited for him to go away and then this other cop comes out of nowhere and starts shooting me. So I take him out and then two other people come out and start yelling at me so I take them out as well.” Brien shook his head and they continued to walk.
“Marc!” Someone hissed at them. Both Marc and Brien turned their heads towards the voice and saw a man huddled on the ground beckoning to them. The man was dressed in rags with cloth covering his face and, Brien saw with a start, holding a gun. Marc drew his gun and pointed it at the man.
“What are you?” Marc asked warily, “I mean, who are you?”
“I'm Matthew!” The man said exasperated, “Lord Marc!” He stood up and unwrapped the scarf from his face. Once the cloth came off both Brien and Marc could see that it was in fact Matthew.
“Sorry about that Matt.” Marc said putting the gun back in his coat pocket. “I'm a little on edge today, you see I am being hunted down by the cops because I shot and killed three innocent people.”
“That's nice.” Matthew said looking around.
“Brien, where is Lara, Allison, and Margret?” He demanded, looking at Brien.
“I don't know!” Brien said indignantly, “Why are you asking me?” Matthew opened his mouth to answer and was hit from behind. He cried out and fell backwards, blood dripping down his back. Marc drew his gun and began to fire in the direction that the attack must have come from. He fired six bullets in rapid succession and stopped.
“Dear lord!” He swore and ran over to the people he was shooting at. Brien followed him stopping short when he saw the bodies .
“What did you do?!” He demanded, turning on Marc in a fury. There were three bodies laying in the snow, two males one female. All three of them were children. The oldest, one of the boys, was no older than sixteen and the youngest, the other boy, was no older than ten.
“I thought they were firing at us.” Marc said, running a hand through his hair.
“They were freaking kids!!!” Brien roared, grabbing Marc by the lapels of his jacket and pushing him up against one of the walls, “It didn't seem strange to you that a bunch of kids would be shooting at us?”
“It was instinct!” Marc protested, pushing Brien's hands away, “Matt was hit so I reacted.”
“Think before you shoot!” Brien spat and turned around. He walked back to the bodies and bent down. The girl was still alive but she was seriously wounded and was crying in pain.
“What do you need?” Brien asked, “Tell me what you need and I will get it for you.”
“I want...” The girl said, tears running down her face, “I want my mom, bring me my mom.”
“Tell me where she lives.” Brien said, fighting back tears of his own “Tell me where she lives and I will get her.”
“One.” The girl said, “One. Eight. Hawthorn Lane.”
“I'll be back.” Brien said standing up, “Hang on.” Brien walked back over to Marc and hissed in his ear.
“Find Lara or when I come back you will be the one laying on the ground bleeding.” He turned and began to walk off when Marc's voice stopped him.
“For God's sake Brien, they are just computer programs!” He said venomously, “They can't feel!” He walked over and drew his foot back to kick the girl in the head to prove his point. Before he could kick her however Brien punched him in the face.
Marc fell backwards into the snow and Brien kicked him in the side. Marc doubled up and Brien bent down so that his face was an inch from Marc's.
“Did that hurt?” Brien asked calmly.
“Look,” Marc coughed, “Brien, I'm sorry. I was...I was an idiot. I am sorry I didn't mean to shoot them, I don't shoot kids, Lord, I don't shoot cops. I don't shoot people, I have only fought in like three battles for the entire war. I..I am very truly sorry. I will go try to find Lara.”
“Good.” Brien said and walked off.
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