Family Feud

This is another writing exercise for English. This one is about a tense situation written in 3 different perspectives: 1st, outsider view and 3rd person omniscient. It describes a moment that happened a few months ago between… well you’ll figure it out.

***

He grabbed the mask from me as I tried to squirm away before he got it. I leapt to my feet and pushed him back. Invading my space at this point was not a good idea. My eyes glowed red, and I could feel a smoldering in my nostrils. He stood there, rage filling his being from his toes up to his head. The moment seemed to drag on for minutes, though it was probably only a second or two as he fully processed his uncontrollable anger. My mind went clear. The blood rushed into my arms and legs and I was ready. She was underfoot and I was able to keep her in my peripherals as he stormed toward me, neither of us knowing exactly what he wanted. His arms went forward and so did mine. I grabbed on, and held on, keeping him a safe distance away from my face and from my daughter who quietly sat on the floor. How could I have let her witness this?, I thought. I kept pushing him back and finally toppled him onto the stairs. A cracking sound let me know that the mask which caused the charade was split in two. I picked her up and stood there a moment. He picked up the broken pieces and went into his room. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find all the pieces that have been missing ever since I was my daughter’s age.

***

Where did the mask go? We were having so much fun! Grampa is so tall from here… What? What’s happening? Why are they pushing each other? Did I do something? It must be my fault. I better not saying anything though. I’ll just pretend like I don’t see them. “Mama? Can we go read a book now?”

***

It wasn’t so much that he didn’t want her to have the mask. It was the fact that she blatantly disregarded his demands, which he barked at her like a toddler instead of asking civilly. Grabbing the mask from her only sent her into offensive territory, a place she does not often visit. She shoved him back and he leapt forward at her. They grappled with each other while the poor child sat between their feet on the floor. The sharp, silent movements left the girl confused and in the end she wasn’t really sure what had just happened. The man lost his footing and toppled down the stairs, crushing the mask as he fell. The mother picked up her daughter and silently moved into their room, closing the door behind her. The man picked up the pieces and said to his wife, “The mask broke.” That was the last time any of them laid their eyes on it. A piece of family history was buried, along with the remaining hope that they might one day understand each other.

Love’s first bite

This week’s exercise is about creating tension in an otherwise happy situation. Those of you who know me well can probably piece this together into the rest of my life well. I’m having fun doing this! Hope you enjoy.

***

I was floating on cloud nine. I had finally met the love of my life, and I was living out on my own. We spent days and nights together, hardly ever apart. Our colorful room, decorated with christmas lights and paintings of nude women, was a place of excitement, passion, and conversations about saving the world that went deep into the night. We cooked pasta together, his arms wrapped around my waist and kisses gently placed on my neck and shoulders. A mix of Bailey’s and ice cream was a perfect evening drink, indeed. Parties welcomed us with open arms, as we danced half dressed in the glow of neon lights and a little ecstasy, a smile spreading endlessly across our faces. His friends remarked on how happy he finally was, having spent most of his years in deep depression and anxiety.

***

He placed the edge of the capsule on the mirror and tapped gently. He handed me a card.

“Break it up a little.”

Eagerly I mixed the white dust around, making two piles that were exactly the same to the crumb. He licked the mirror first. I hesitated, and licked the second pile. I was working up to bigger highs, not really knowing what to expect with larger doses. He was patient and in no hurry. Though the pills did come out of the box about every other day or so. As did the Roughies.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to take stimulants so often,” I said as he was shaving in the shower.

He peeked out from behind the curtain, “They help me wake up and be productive.”

I shrugged and walked out. He’s older. He must know what he’s doing, I thought.

***

I spread my legs and the flash went off. I bent backwards and more flickering lights hit my skin. Completely naked, post-coitus, a high painted on my droopy eyelids. He hooked the camera up to his computer and started uploading the pictures.

“In my perfect world, everyone is always naked and having sex,” he said while clicking the mouse.

“Don’t you think there are some situations where that wouldn’t work out?”

“Not really. If we just allow ourselves to be completely free and have no boundaries then war and anger will perish.”

***

“Um, these are interesting pictures,” my friend said when I showed him the website.

“This is just like any other form of expression. Sex is everything – it is the very essence of life, you can bring everything in the universe back to orgasm. So we’re sharing ourselves freely with the world in hopes that they will find themselves a little freer too. No boundaries.”

“Yeah… You know he could go to jail for taking these?”

“Well my parents aren’t going do anything about us, and they aren’t going to find this site, so we’re fine.”

My friend closed the lid of his computer. “I support you in whatever choices you make, you know that. I just hope you’re being careful.”

“Of course I am! I know how to take care of myself.” I hugged him and left.