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Post by Ajax on Jun 26, 2007 20:55:51 GMT -5
*Dorothy Carroll walks into her little cubicle at the Sommerville Reporter.*
*She pulls out her chair and sits down, straightening her things for the day. She goes to turn on her computer and then notices a post it stuck to her screen. She rips it off and reads it.*
Dorothy: Dot, please come to my office as soon as you get in. Thanks, Fred
*She puts the note down on top of her pile of work and starts in on her work for the day.*
*A little later she walks to Fred's office, the head man at the newspaper.*
*She knocks on the door.*
Fred: Come in!
Dorothy: You wanted to see me?
Fred: Yes...sit down...
Dorothy: *closes the door and takes a seat.* What about?
Fred: Dorothy...Your work has been....well...
Dorothy: Yes?
Fred: Your work has been declining, and we can't entrust the scoops to you anymore....
Dorothy: *sarcastically* Well, don't beat about the bush Fred, give it to me straight!
Fred: I'm sorry, but I'm as of today, you are the human interest column...
Dorothy: You can't do this! I'm the one who uncovered that scandal down at city hall, I'm the one who was there first when the Mayor's son was murdered....I was there BEFORE the evening news shows!
Fred: Like I said Dorothy, I'm sorry, but you're just going to have to prove to me again that you can do things like that...
Dorothy: *Crosses her arms and purses her lips* Yeah, so what's the assignment?
Fred: You are to interview people in nursing homes, find out about life in nursing homes.
Dorothy: *rolls her eyes* Yeah, and when's the deadline?
Fred: Two weeks from now, insuring that you can get enough interview from enough people at enough nursing homes around this town.
Dorothy: *bitingly* Well, I've had enough of this already!
Fred: Well, you can either do it or lose your job!
Dorothy: Alright...I'll have it for you then....
*She gets up and walks out, slamming the door behind her*
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jun 27, 2007 0:07:24 GMT -5
*Kim sits quietly by the windowsill of her room, gazing out along the flower garden in the 3rd story building she's resided in for over 10 years. Megg, her closest friend since high school, shares the same room with her. They're a quiet set, not raising any ruckus or stirring up any trouble; they have a few friends but through the years they've lost a couple from a series of cancers, unknown illnesses or, given, just old age. The girls don't lead a very entertaining life; the biggest event they have to look forward to is activity time with the other members of the 3rd floor. They don't complain, at least they have each other still. The head nurse had announced to the girls that a reporter will be coming to visit them at around 10 this morning; they wait patiently with curiosity getting the better of them both.*
Megg: ...What do you think she's come for?
Kim: Oh, just a story, I suppose...
*Megg shakes her head, slowly and painfully sitting down on her bed, she opens her drawer for a piece of paper and a pen*
Megg: I don't like it; these kids are just a bunch of no-good, disrespectful punks....
*Kim laughs and looks to Megg, who's fervently writing on her notepad*
Kim: My dear, you used to be just as bad; as a matter of fact you were worse!
*Megg laughs, setting her pen down just a bit and looks to Kim*
Megg: I was, wasn't I? Well...*looking over her paper, then back up to Kim* you were, too!
Kim: Seems we both were; so what's to say this gal should be any different?
Megg: I don't know, I just don't like being treated like a child, that's all.
*Megg finishes her note and places the pen back into the drawer and begins to make her way toward the door.*
Kim: What's the note about?
*Megg turns around and waves the note at Kim, squinting her eyes and pursing her lips*
Megg: For 8 years I've tried to get that stupid ice cream man to give me just one small scoop...the idea struck me last week...
Kim: Yeah? What's that? A letter from your mother?
*Kim laughs; Megg shakes her head and smiles*
Megg: Even better...a note from my physician!
*Megg chuckles as she toddles down the hall; Kim laughs, shaking her head. She looks down at her watch*
9:48
*A few minutes later one of the nurses knocks on Kim's door.*
Kim: Yes?
Nurse: You have a visitor.
*Kim slowly manages to turn around to find the reporter standing in the doorway holding a notepad and pencil*
Kim: Oh, hello...
*Dorothy nods to the nurse, as if to say, 'don't worry, I'll keep a good eye on her.' Kim stands up slowly and lightly brushes off her pants, taking balance on the railing next to the wall. Dorothy walks up to Kim and extends her hand*
Dorothy: I'm Miss Carroll, but you can call me Dorothy.
*The woman speaks to Kim as if she's gone deaf in both ears. Kim nods and smiles*
Kim: Nice to meet you, Dorothy, my name is Kim.
*Dorothy smiles, looking around the room, unsure of what to say.*
I've been in some pretty awkward situations in my life but I've never been in a place where death hangs so heavy in the air! What do I say to this woman?
*Kim sits on the bed gently, easing the pain in her arthritic hips and places her hands in her lap, looking to the woman*
Kim: That's a beautiful necklace, Dorothy...
*Dorothy looks down and rubs over it with her thumb and index finger*
Dorothy: Thanks, it was my mother's.
*Kim smiles and nods*
Kim: It's very lovely.
*Megg waddles into the room with a glum look on her face*
Kim: No ice cream today?
*Megg throws the note in the garbage and slowly makes her way over to her bed*
Megg: If he ever brings his little kids into this place I'll hunt those little nerds down and steal that ice cream myself!
*Dorothy looks to Kim, surprised yet suppressing a chuckle. Kim laughs*
Kim: This is my friend, roommate, and sometimes only source of entertainment: Megg Hadden.
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Post by Ajax on Jun 30, 2007 14:12:10 GMT -5
Dorothy: *looks at the paper in her hand with a list of people she is supposed to interview at this home* Oh, I must have the wrong room then, this paper lists a Megan Hadden.
Kim: Oh, well, she is Megan Hadden, but she just doesn't remember that half the time...
Megg: *fiddles with something in her bedside drawer* Are you talking about me again?
Kim: No...
Dorothy: *rolls her eyes and murmurs* Well, this is going to be fun....
Megg: *walks over and sits in a chair next to Kim's bed* Oh good! I like fun! Oh, Kim, remember that time when Jimmy was going to give....*Kim slaps her hand over Megg's mouth*
Dorothy: Look, I'm here to collect stories...*looks to Kim, pursing her lips slightly, in anger* Now, could she please finish the story?
Kim: *looks to Megg pleadingly and takes her hand away*
Megg: *rubs her jaw* Geez, you broke the whole jaw!
Kim: Well, I see Jerry's influence still hasn't rubbed off...
Megg: *sighs* Just because I was going to marry the man...
Kim: What man WEREN'T you going to marry?!
Megg: *scoffs* Gary!
Dorothy: *Sits back, annoyed watching the two bicker. She clears her throat, trying to get attention back to her*
*The two continue on in their argument about men*
Dorothy: *Stands up and yells* STOP IT! THIS IS STUPID! STOP!
*The two older women look at this young woman, their eyes wide, their mouths gaping open*
Kim: *stands up and looks Dorothy right in the eyes* I don't know who you think you are....
Megg: I can't believe it...*she shakes her head and walks over to her bed, sitting down*
Kim: How dare you talk to your elders that way!
Megg: You get out of room until you learn some manners....you...you...
Kim: *thinks for a moment* HOODLUM!
*Dorothy packs up her notebooks and storms out of the room.*
That's it...I'm going down there first thing in the morning and telling Fred that I can't do this...If I have to look at another old wrinkled biddy, I'm going to scream!
*She gets in her car, slamming the door and speeds away*
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jul 1, 2007 21:43:02 GMT -5
*The next morning Dorothy storms into the building and into Fred's office; she closes the door and stands in front of Fred with her arms folded. Fred looks up*
Fred: What now?
Dorothy: Those women are insane--I won't do it.
*Fred pushes himself from his desk and walks over to the door, opening it and glaring at Dorothy*
Fred: You have a job to do and I expect you to do it.
*Dorothy glares at him and huffs out of the room, slamming the door on her way out. She drives back to the nursing home mumbling to herself. She walks up to their room to find them playing gin*
Kim: So then I told her, "back off, you bag, or I'll stuff you with my grandson's groceries!"
*They both laugh*
Megg: And did she do it?
Kim: *Sigh* She thought I said, "I'll give your bag back so my grandson can stuff your groceries."
Megg: That ninny...
Kim: Gin!
*Dorothy hesitates, then walks in. Megg looks up and shakes her head, adjusting her glasses and looking back at her hand*
Megg: Go away, I won't need you for another 2 hours...
*Dorothy takes a deep sigh and takes a chair next to them, sitting down.*
Dorothy: It's me...Dorothy--the reporter.
Megg: I don't care who ya' are...you can be the presidents wife and if you're still here...I'll have an 'accident' all over your *mockingly* ''pritty'' shoes!
*Dorothy grinds her teeth and throws down her notepad*
Dorothy: I've had it with you old women! I give up!
*Dorothy storms out once more; Kim looks to Megg and giggles*
Kim: I'll bet you $5 she comes back in here wearing a protected plastic suit.
*Megg looks back at her hand and smiles*
Megg: If she's anything like the last one, I'll bet you $50.
Kim: ...Gin.
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Post by Ajax on Jul 6, 2007 11:20:24 GMT -5
Megg: *throws down her cards* I can't ever win this game!
Kim: Wanna go another hand?
Megg: No...*She piles up her cards and hands them to Kim to put back in the deck*
Kim: I'll advance you 25 points...
Megg: *shakes her head*
Kim: Fine....penny ante?
Megg: *Shakes her head again*
Kim: Alright...how about go fish?
***In the Cafeteria***
*Dorothy takes her last sip of coffee from her white "sterilezed" nursing home mug.*
Dorothy: I'm just going to have to go up there and do this....I can't afford to lose my job! *She shudders* and have to move back in with that....old bitty!
*She puts her cup and tray on the little cart where they are deposited after use.*
*She walks back up to Kim and Megg's room and knocks on the open door and looks in.*
Kim: *holds out her hand* Time to collect...I told you!
*Megg shakes her head and hands her a 1 dollar bill from her dress.*
Kim: What is it this time?
Dorothy: I've come to do my story....
Megg: I think I'm gonna go visit my husband...*She heads out the door and then comes back in* What room is he in?
Kim: *rolls her eyes* 237....
Megg: *smiles and nods her thanks* I dunno what I'd do without you, Kim!
*She walks out leaving Kim with Dorothy.*
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jul 9, 2007 11:16:32 GMT -5
I got most of it completed last night, pally, but I had to save it 'cause it was getting late. I'll update later (it's saved onto my laptop, I'm on the desktop)
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jul 9, 2007 13:36:03 GMT -5
Dorothy: Is she really that...loose in the head? Kim: Some days I can never tell... *Dorothy sits back and shakes her head* Dorothy: We have a lot to cover so I think we should start immediately. Can you start by telling me a little about your first meeting with Megg? Kim: Megg moved in next door to me when I was about 7. We-- Dorothy: What year was this? *Kim squints her eyes to remember, looking up and mumbling to herself* Kim: Wow, that's gotta be clear back in '31. *Dorothy takes down a few notes and shakes her head, chuckling to herself.* Dorothy: *Ahem* And... *She looks down at her outline* Dorothy: I hear you're married? *She looks up to Kim* Dorothy: Can you tell me of when you got married? Kim: Little? I couldn't begin to explain it all in just a couple minutes...you'd need to hear the beginning, too! *Dorothy takes a deep sigh and looks at her watch* Can't get out of here until 3, and it's 9:30 now...I might as well.*Dorothy positions herself, as if agitated and lets out a deep sigh of frustration* Dorothy: All right, begin from the day you met your husbands. How old were you? *Kim begins to tell the story as if from a story book.* Kim: The year was 1942, July 4th; I was 18 and Megg was 20. We waited for our dates in Avery Park; a park that all the teenagers of that time would meet their blind dates. Megg was told by her friend Millie that she knew a couple guys who were interested in meeting some girls that evening for the celebration; she told them about us and set the date. It was such a romantic setting, especially on the 4th of July, so we were just over-joyed to be meeting such supposed handsome men in that kind of set up... [Flashback] Megg: *While clipping on her earrings* Kim, hurry up! We're supposed to be there in 10 minutes! *Kim walks out of the bathroom, clipping a bobby-pin in her hair* Kim: Millie said to be there at 5, it's 4:15! Megg: I know, but I don't want to be late, Kim. The earlier the better! Kim: Yeah, well I'd rather be fashionably late. Megg: Don't start that with me. That's why no one invites you...because you're always "fashionably" late. Kim: Oh, is that why? *Megg fiddles with her earring and huffs loudly, stomping the ground with her foot* Megg: Help me! *Kim walks over and fixes on Megg's earring* Kim: Have you seen their pictures? Megg: No, but Millie says they're just as handsome as ever and think we're models. Kim: What? Did Millie say th-- Megg: No, no, she showed them our photos and they thought we were beautiful...gosh, grow that brain of yours, Kim! *Kim shakes her head and finishes putting in Megg's earring* Kim: Well, let's get going! Megg: Look who's Miss Prompt, now! Kim: Prompt schmompt, I just wanna see 'em! *The girls giggle out the door and down the hall. They reach Avery Park and sit on a bench, looking around* Megg: You suppose they're tall? Kim: Millie knows we love tall men; they must be. *The girls wait for what seems like hours, watching tall and handsome men walk by, hoping that at least one of them would be the one; but nothing* Megg: I feel like an idiot...sitting here waiting for a man; you know, I'm going to forget about men from here on out and just focus on myself. I've had enough of men treating me like I'm dirt! Kim: ...You haven't had a man to treat you like dirt. Megg: Oh shut up, Kim... *Kim looks to Megg and sighs* Kim: What time is it? Megg: Six... *Kim looks down and shakes her head* Kim: I think I'm gonna go take a walk and stretch my legs. I'll meet you back here later and we'll catch those fireworks. *Megg nods and Kim walks off. Moments later a man stands in a trench coat before Megg and smiles* Man: Hello Miss... *Megg looks up to find a handsome man standing before her.* Man: I couldn't help but notice you were all alone and I-- *She stands up to him and pokes him in the chest* Megg: Look here, I don't need a date to be happy. I'm just as happy to spend July 4th with my friend! It's just too bad that you'll treat women like this for a couple of jokes. Now if you would kindly leave I would appreciate never seeing you again! *She sits back down and folds her arms* Man: I don't know what you're talking about lady, but I was just passing by and I saw you were all alone so I-- Megg: Just go away, will ya'? I don't want company right now. *The man sits down* Man: My name is Jimmy, what's yours? Megg: I said I don't want company! Please go away! Jimmy: You look lovely in the moonlight... *Megg turns to the man and snaps* Megg: I said go away! ***Kim****Kim walks for a while, just kicking the sidewalk lightly with her shoe, looking up into the sky, wishing on the moon* It wouldn't be so bad to be alone on July 4th, but to be alone every other day of the year is a little depressing...I just want to have a--*A whole flock of goofy teenagers whiz by Kim; a tall man knocks her to the ground accidentally. He looks back and stops, walking back to help her up* Man: Sorry lady... *Kim stands up, with the help of the tall man, and dusts herself off* Kim: That's quite all right. *She looks up to find a gorgeously handsome man standing before her; looking as though he must be 7 feet tall.* *He smiles sweetly. His buddies start calling for him; he looks to her hesitating then tips his hat and smiles weakly, joining his friends, looking back to her a few times. She smiles as she watches him walk off.*
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Post by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 21:58:02 GMT -5
Jimmy: I'll only go away under one circumstance..
Megg: I don't care, JUST go away!
Jimmy: *crosses his arms over his chest and slouches down on the bench* I guess I'll b--
Megg: Alright, what is it?!
Jimmy: What is what?
Megg: The circumstance?
Jimmy: Will ya do it?
Megg: I'll do ANYTHING just to get you to go away!
Jimmy: You sure you'll do it?!
Megg: *snaps at him* YES!
Jimmy: Alright....*he stands up and straightens his vest and his coat* Alright...no reason to be all up in arms....
Megg: I'm not up in arms, it's ju--
Jimmy: Dance with me!
Megg: just that I'm wa--What?!
Jimmy: Dance with me....
Megg: Dance with you?! Now, I'm not going to dance with you Mr.....Mr....
Jimmy: Stewart...and why not!?
Megg: Because!
Jimmy: Well, that's not good enough of a reason...why won't you dance with me?
Megg: Because...you're a perfect stranger...and...and there's no music! *She crosses her arms and purses her lips, aggravated at this stranger*
Jimmy: Well, we can work on that strangers thing....
Megg: And what about the music?
Jimmy: Who needs music?
Megg: I do! Besides, I won't dance with you.
Jimmy: It'll make me go away...
Megg: *smiles* Oh good! I'd do anything to make you go away!
*Jimmy takes her hand and the two dance in the moonlight on the gravel path in front of the bench.*
***Kim***
That smile...why...I've never seen anything like it in my life....and those eyes...that piercing blue...
Kim: *mummbling to herself, straightening her clothes. She glances at her watch* Oh! Megg and I were supposed to meet at The Keystone!
*She rushes off, walking to the little cafe.*
*She goes inside, looking around for Megg but can't spot her. She walks to a booth and sits down, placing her hat on the empty space on the seat, next to her. She grabs the little menu from the metal holder and looks it over, anxiously awaiting Megg. She notices something out of the corner of her eye and puts the menu down and looks up.*
Man: *He smiles at her and takes off his hat, holding it close to his stomach* Excuse me Miss...
Kim: Oh! Hello!
Man: *he smiles that weak smile again and nods his head toward her* Hello...
Kim: *smiles back and says faintly* Hi...
Man: *scoffs* I just...I wanted to um...Well, I wanted to apologize for what happened out on the street there...
Kim: Oh don't think anything of it.
Man: You were okay, weren't you? I never should have rushed off like that, I'm sorry, but you see...
Kim: Oh no, I'm quite alright. Are you?
Man: Oh yes...just...fine...fine...Well, I had best be getting back to my friends. *He extends his hand, shaking hers* I'm...I'm Gary by the way...It was nice to have met you...Well, I mean, not nice to have knocked you down...but this was...this is much nicer...
Kim: *chuckles. She shakes his hand* I'm Kim. It was nice to meet you Gary....
Gary: Well...*He puts his hat back on and tips it to her and then walks back over to the table where his friends are.*
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jul 12, 2007 22:38:43 GMT -5
*Megg looks at her watch and sighs*
Megg: Okay, dance is over.
Jimmy: You can't do that. I won't go away...
Megg: You asked for a dance and I gave you one....you never said for how long.
Jimmy: A whole song! Not just 5 seconds! Come on, back in my arms...
*Megg stands back and chuckles, with her arms crosses and her head tilted back*
Megg: I can't believe you're doing this...
Jimmy: Me neither, now come on and sway with me.
*Megg scoffs and places her hand back in his and over his shoulder. The two continue to sway. Jimmy begins to hum and twirls her*
Jimmy: Someday over the rainbow... skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream...really do come true.
*He starts to giggle as she starts laughing*
Jimmy: What's so funny?
Megg: Do you do this with all the girls you meet on park benches?
Jimmy: No....no....only the girls who sit off to the right and have blonde hair.
*He smiles and gazes into her eyes*
Megg: Ahhhh, well, lucky me then.
Jimmy: Say, you have beautiful blue eyes, did you know that?
Megg: I've seen myself a thousand times but no---no, I never knew that
*She says sarcastically. He continues to smile, as if in awe*
Jimmy: They're remarkable. ...And the sparkle in your left eye is bigger than the sparkle in your right.... They're a masterpiece, Megg...
*Megg breaks his embrace and looks down*
Megg: All right, that's your one song, now will you leave me alon--
Jimmy: Marry me, Megg....
Megg: WHAT!? No!
Jimmy: And why not?
Megg: Why not--*scoffs* Because I don't know you! And because I don't LIKE YOU!
Jimmy: I see no reason why you should still be saying no.
***Kim and Gary***
*Kim continues to sit at her table, picking at her food. She looks up and locks eyes with Gary. He smiles sweetly and mouths: hello. She smiles and shakes her head, mouthing: what? He mouths it once more but she still can't hear him. He then shouts*
Gary: I said, "hello!"
*She looks around embarassed but shouts back*
Kim: Hi!
*His eyes light up and he's unable to wipe the smile from his face. He hesitates, then stands up and walks back over to her table*
Gary: Will you...*looks down* will you take a walk with me?
*Kim smiles sweetly and nods*
Kim: I'd love to...
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Post by Ajax on Jul 12, 2007 23:14:58 GMT -5
*A knock comes on the door*
Nurse: Ready for your medicine Kim and Megg?
*She comes in with little souffle cups and hands them the pills and then a little glass of water to take them.*
*She looks to Dorothy*
Nurse: I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over...
Dorothy: But, I'm with the press.
Nurse: I don't care, visiting hours are over, you can come back tomorrow.
*Dorothy sighs, knowing that she still has stories to get from the other residents.*
Dorothy: Alright....*She gets up and walks to Megg and Kim.* Thank you. What would be a good time for you two tomorrow?
Kim: Oh anytime.
Megg: We'll be here! *She smiles*
Nurse: Visiting hours are from 10 until 9. Anytime between those hours are okay...*She shoo's Dorothy out of the room.*
*Dorothy leaves and gets into her car.*
They don't seem too sad or terribly treated, at least they have their memories...
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jul 16, 2007 23:41:22 GMT -5
As the nurse prepares the two for their daily medication, Kim sits by the window and gazes out among the fog that's hung heavy in the afternoon whirl of city life. She fixes her eyes upon the modest garden she's tried keeping lush over the past 10 years, but the lack of strength and increased pain of her arthritis has reduced her ability to keep it up. Oh, a couple gardeners come by once a week to water it, but it lacks the love and patience to keep it growing full and vibrant. "Miss Kim, your medication." the nurse huffs in a gruff voice, as if in a hurry to get to another patient. Kim slowly positions herself against the wall to stand up but the impatient nurse sets the cup down on her nightstand and walks off with her medical tray. Kim weakly makes her way over to the bed and sits down gently, trying to keep herself from the pain as much as possible. Megg slowly lays herself down on the bed and takes a deep sigh. Kim looks over to Megg and shakes her head, remembering all the days in their youth when they thought nothing could slow them down or get in their way; little did they know time was their only enemy. She smiles faintly and fixes her eyes back upon her cup then tries downing it in one gulp. "Did you ever think we'd end up like this, Kim?" Megg says quietly, sounding as if she's finally realized this is her final place of home. "No." Kim replies weakly, looking down at her feet. She raises her head slowly and smiles, reminiscing about their future plans of retirement. With pain in her tone and a rasp in her voice, Megg says "I never thought they'd just store us away like this. I thought we meant something to them; I thou--" "You know they had a life of their own, Megg. We were getting older and bothersome; It isn't their fault." Kim interrupts. Megg looks down and closes her eyes, trying to fight the pain in her heart; "I know, I just wish they'd at least stop by and at least acknowledge that we're still alive." Kim turns herself around and lays back, pulling the sheet upon her weak body and takes a deep sigh, trying to ignore the sharp pain in her bones. "They do, Megg...in their hearts they know. ...At least we have each other." Megg smiles and chuckles, "yeah...we'll always have each other..."
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Post by BetterThanPoe on Jul 17, 2007 21:58:34 GMT -5
If you do not mind much, we can either re-write the last post, or I can drop some example of sentence changes to increase the effectiveness of said material. ;D
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jul 17, 2007 22:26:33 GMT -5
lol, Please do. I tried my best! But dangnabbit, I just can't get it right! You can send me a message on myspace and we can go over it from there, because since this is supposed to be for fun it isn't supposed to be refined or modified over, but I'd love your help. It'd be so cool to see how far I came from this post, to a "professional" post with David's help!
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Post by BetterThanPoe on Jul 17, 2007 22:48:03 GMT -5
David to the RESCUE!!!!! Well not really...Your doing very well. I just want to walk you through those next steps. You could rival me with a little guidance.
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Post by Ajax on Nov 29, 2007 21:52:10 GMT -5
(Sorry this took so long pally, my AOL kept crashing and I kept losing what I had written, and now my laptop just completely crashed and I am trying to get things all re-installed. I hope I didn't leave you in too compromising of a position. I did have more to do with it, but I figured I'd leave some story for you to write too lol)
The two shaky pained old women settle in for what they hope will be a peaceful night's sleep. They know better than to hope for such a thing, but they find themselves doing it anyways. Their dreams are their only true possessions anymore. Everything else they owned was shoved into storage by their families and then picked through to find what was "useable" and what was "trash" and the rest was discarded. Eighty-five years of life just tossed to the wayside and the two of them just shoved into a nursing home, just to be pushed out of the way so everyone else could go on with their lives.
Megg lays in her bed, the thoughts of how glorious their lives once were ad how mundane and meaningless they are now, fill her head. She tries to sleep but can’t for the sounds of Kim trying to make herself comfortable. Her best friend, her pally through thick and thin, how she used to envy the way Kim could dance, the gracefulness of her feet. Her heart aches to think of her crippled and knotted hands and her painful, distorted, water-filled ankles. A tear runs down Megg’s cheek. She turns and faces the wall. She looks at the pictures that she hung up when she was first sent here, barely able to remember the faces in them now, not even knowing what happened to some of those people. She fears for her memory but doesn’t let it show too much. She finally drifts off to sleep, hoping that Kim can do the same.
The next morning the pair is aroused at 8:45 for breakfast. They are escorted down to the dining room by a nurse. She’s new and talks to the two of them as if they were children, deaf children. She leads the two of them to their table, the same one they have been sitting at for ten years with the same old couple that never speak a word, never look up from their plates, and the same old man with the same bum eye. Everything in this place remains the same, even down to the salt shakers placed on all of the tables. The nurse pulls out the chairs and puts their walkers to the side so the nurses will be able to get by with the food easier. The nurse, after pushing in their chairs informs them, in the same high pitched happy voice that the “nice lady from the newspaper will be here to finish the interview today.”
“Nothing could make me happier!” Kim retorts. The nurse gives Kim a shocked look and then shakes her head, she shows a slight frown to Kim. Kim shrugs her shoulders and waits for her food. Megg sits quietly, thinking.
“What are you thinking about?” Kim turns to Megg and asks. Megg shakes her head to indicate nothing. Kim doesn’t give up so easily, knowing Megg a little too well. “Come on, I know that look, it’s not just nothing.”
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Dec 1, 2007 18:58:26 GMT -5
Megg continues to pick at her food absent-mindedly -- her thoughts focusing anywhere but on her plate. "I just. . . " Megg begins, her tone lowered and trailing off to a quiet whisper, almost as if she's embarrassed to admit it, "I just hate being old." Kim slowly leans back and nods, her suspicions becoming more evident as their time together passes. "I knew it was something -- you haven't been acting yourself now for days." She pauses and looks to Megg sympathetically, patting her hand gently. "Anything I can do?" Megg looks to Kim wanly, trying to see past her frail and wrinkled face to find the youthful gaiety she once, so naturally, possessed; though she looks down and begins to lightly sob again. "I don't want to be here anymore, Kim." Megg weeps, but through her sobs the words are scarcely understandable. "None of these nurses understand how it feels to lose your entire life -- all because you've grown to an age where you become so . . . so danged dependent upon others, needy and just plain useless. I wasn't asked to be put away!" Megg uttered, still staring, "I had a life and a home; and now all I have are white walls and dying people to stare at! I'm sick of staring at white walls and constantly being reminded that I'm going to die here! I'm ignored, talked down to and treated as if I were a child!" Her tone now becomes abrasive and she clenches her teeth while balling her bony hand into a fist. "We swore it'd never happen to us; and now we're stuck here for life! FOR LIFE! Why us, Kim? WHY US?!" Megg clasps her hands to her ears, grabbing at her disheveled thinning gray hair, rocking in pain. Suddenly her voice rips through the room's mealtime chatter as she screams in torturous pain, her voice bellowing down the hall, causing Gladys Wilson to stop in her tracks and turn -- her orthopedic shoes squeaking on the highly polished floor -- to see what the commotion was. For a moment nothing is heard but Megg's stifled moans. The nurses rush to her side, feeling her pulse and checking for fever. Kim sits back in trepidation, her eyes wide and full of shock, as they lead Megg quickly back to her room where, they pump her full of strong sedatives. By this time, Gladys has worked her way down the hallway, and as she shyly peers in through the doorway, nurse number one barks at her to "get back to your room!" Duty completed, the nurses close the door behind them and return to their station. As life returns to it's monotanous routine, Kim approaches the room hesitantly, not wanting to be a disturbance; caring deeply for her friend, though, she knocks on the door faintly, not knowing what to expect. "Come in." Megg's weak voice quivers, the tone sounding almost eerie. Kim pushes open the door and slowly makes her way toward the bed. "How're ya' feeling, pally?" Kim inquires, her voice sympathetic and concerned. "Better, now." Megg smiles faintly, but all the same sincerely as her trembling hand reaches to touch Kim's. "You gave us a pretty bad scare back there!" Kim laughs. Her voice chokes and the laugh gets stuck in her throat; she cringes from the heartbreak. "So this is our existence now?" she thinks to herself, as she watches Megg's eyes slowly close in restful sleep. "Reality mixed with glimpses of the past? Should we try to remember or should we try to forget? Do we all experience the same anxieties and fears? Are sedatives our friend. . . or are they our foe?"
The moment Megg's senses came flooding back, complete with emotions and memories, nurses one and three quieted her with sedatives and dismissed her reaction as "just a slight side effect from the new medication." But Kim knew better; sure, for the moment, she had her wits about her, but she did battle the frightening thoughts that one day she too could succumb to the menacing thief -- that robber of memories. But for now she was grateful for the memories of her dear husband, and the ability to reminisce about happier times that could still warm her heart and bring some peace to her mind . . . for now.
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Post by Ajax on Dec 4, 2007 20:03:33 GMT -5
Dorothy shows up and registers at the nurse's station. She gets her pass and heads to room 110. She knocks on the door. Kim turns from her friend and looks at the woman standing at the door.
"It's not a good time Miss Carroll." Kim says, downheartedly. She turns back to Megg and watches her eyes flutter in sedative induced dreams. Is she sitting at the Copa sipping a cocktail and making eyes at Dean? Is she taking her vows? Is she dancing with Jerry at the Trocadero?
Dorothy walks into the room and stands next to Kim, looking down at Megg, "What's wrong?"
"She's been sedated. She can't cope." Kim's joints start to hurt her and she shuffles over to the chair that sits next to the bedside table that sits next to Megg's bed. She sits down and turns to Dorothy. "She's losing her memory. Her whole life is disappearing before her eyes."
Dorothy shakes her head, shocked. Her hand flies to her mouth, to stifle a gasp, "I'm so sorry! It must be so hard on you and her family."
Kim shrugs. "Her family dumped her here a long time ago. They used to take turns visiting but I guess they forgot whose turn it was to visit. They get so caught up in their own lives and forget about the person that made their's possible. Is it hard on me? Sure it is. I don't know if when she wakes up she'll even know I'm her friend of 70 some years. I don't know if she'll even know my name, remember my face..."
Dorothy wipes a tear away from her eye. She's really starting to like the old pair of odd friends. They seem so mismatched to Dorothy. She looks to the few pictures on the wall, she lets the tears roll down her cheeks now.
Kim notices Dorothy looking at the pictures. "I'm afraid those will have to come down. I don't know if they anger her so much as frighten her. She rarely remembers who they are." She points to one and says, "That's her and her husband on their wedding day, of course," she points to another and says, "That's her and her two children and that one...." She stares at one picture. "That's us..."
Kim stands up from her chair and takes that picture down. She looks at it and a flood of memories rush back to her. She holds the picture tight to her and closes her eyes. She finally takes the picture away and sets it against a vase of flowers on Megg's night stand.
"Who is that one?" Dorothy points to a small snapshot of a man stuck in the corner of one of the frames. She stares at the handsome man, awe struck by him. He seems so full of life in the picture yet has probably been long passed.
Kim takes that picture out of the corner of the frame and hides it in the drawer of Megg's beside table. "He was just a friend..." Dorothy nods, "I see." Megg turns on her side and mumbles a little. Whatever she says is incoherent. Dorothy and Kim run to her side but Megg falls right back into her hallucinations.
"I should be going. I wish there was more I could do for you and your friend, however there is only one thing that comes to mind." Dorothy shuts off her tape recorder. She has been recording what Kim had to say, incase there was anything she could use for her article.
Kim waves her hands as if to say that it's useless, whatever Dorothy can offer, "I'm afraid that nobody will be able to help her."
Dorothy shakes her head, "No, but I can. The only thing I can do is to get her story down before it's gone forever."
With that Dorothy walks out of the room and returns her pass at the nurse's station. She heads to her car with tears stinging at her eyes. She gets in and let's them flow, not only for Megg, but knowing that one day she may be in the same position. And will there be anyone there for me?
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Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on Jan 24, 2008 22:17:13 GMT -5
Imprisoned Beauty
"Every wrinkle on an old woman's elderly face tells of a story.
The lines around her eyes paint a raw portrait of her witty personality: so carefree and gay; always laughing, always cheerful. Her eyes, though very much glossy and going blind, tell of the times she had cried herself to sleep so many nights; just heart-wrenchingly pouring her heart out to God and hoping in prayer that her husband makes his way back from a the cold and bloody war, safely. Her lips, now very wrinkled and pencil-thin, tell of her many kind words shared between loved ones and strangers; sharing truth and joy to many along her travels. Her body, bearing 5 children (all grown up now, with children of their own) quietly and painfully closes down. With cancer consuming her once perfect figure, she wastes away, now frail and weak. Her hands used to paint portraits -- beautiful works of art -- though they are now wrinkled and arthritic. She still finds time to paint amidst the pain, painting little drawings for her grandchildren, though now they aren't worth thousands of dollars but she doesn't mind because the joy on their faces, she's come to realize, is more precious than gold or silver. Her hair, now grey and dying, still glistens in the morning sun as she combs it through and braids it tightly.
She looks in the mirror, noticing all of these "imperfections", but smiles...adding another wrinkle to her weathered face. She doesn't sigh or feel emotions of sorrow or sadness, but a feeling of joy and contentment, knowing that deep within her soul lies, still, a beautiful young lady, bursting forth with liveliness and spunk. Yet many look at her, young and old, and feel pity on her, thinking she's quite ugly looking or deathly.
But she looks on them with pity in her soul for they...they are the ones who have truly grown old..."
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