Tuesday, May 22, 2012

February 22 - Athletic Banquet Group Story

My friends and I got bored at an awards ceremony so we played a writing game.  Credit where credit is due to Kate and Christine.






“What are we doing here?”
“Waiting.”
“For what?”
“For Harry, remember?”
“Which Harry, The Harry?”
“Certainly, that’s why I brought these pumpkins.”
He sat down on the wooden crates as punctuation to his sentence as his companion looked on with distaste.
“Screw Harry, let’s get out of here.”
“Then what?”
“Then… Fuck, we have to wait don’t we?”
“Yeah, we do.  You got a light?”
“I have my Wand, duh.”
He pulled out a faux-wood LeeLux patented lighter; an unparalleled contraption, no other was quite as reliable or betrayed so obviously in this bitter landscape the wealth of the user.
“Thanks” he exhaled smoke “What was that noise?”
“I dunno.  It sounded big… I really think we should go now.”
“No Creatures be damned, we’re staying…. We need this.”
“Why?  You’ve got money.  What more could you want?  Why did you bring me along?  I’m missing the game for this.”
“Oh, You and your game.”
“’Me and my game’ what’s that supposed to mean?  We’re in this together Davey, don’t forget that.”
“I know, But you still haven’t told me why this is so important and what’s in it for me.”
“I’m not sure … I think you should help me first…”
He motioned languidly to the boxes, suggesting that Davey ought to move the pumpkin boxes but without suggesting where or why – it was his way.
“No, No way.  I am not touching those pumpkin boxes.  Did you hear what they did to the last guy who touched them?  Sorry James, I can’t do it.  But there might be another way.  You got any buckets?”
“What did they do? It couldn’t possibly be that bad.
“You don’t understand, I’m afraid of retribution.”
“Retribution! All this talking around the subject stops now.  You will tell me what is going on.”
“Ok, so here’s the story.  Last year Lily told me to get the seeds in time for her senior project.  I have to do this, and you’re my friend. You have to help me.”
“Fuck your friend’s project!  You know what happens after that project’s over, you didn’t finish. You escaped.” James spat
“You’ll let me out.  I’ll thank you for that by the way.  If we wait any longer for Harry we’re gonna go back and I can’t do that.  Not again.”
“Coward.  You’re going to have to get over your fears some time.”
“No I will not have to face any fucking fears. This is real life James, I get to run away from turning my clock forward.  But if it’s what Lily wants, I have to help.”
“Finally you get it.  I need you to go stall the guard.  Take your gun.”  Davey turned to leave “Wait, be careful. There, take the other pack of cigs.”
“I hate you.”
“Yeah, yeah, hate you too.  Don’t get bit.”
Davey walked away to stand guard.  James heard the click of the safety followed by gun shots.  “James… Harry’s here.  He shot me.  Bastard.”
“Why in the… why would he do that?”
James ran to catch the falling body; as he reached out his arms he felt a great, hulking hand grab his collar and pull him back. “Harry? Harry! What the fuck?”
“He’s dead James. Davey is dead.  I had to shoot him.  It was necessary.  Do you have the boxes?”
“Fuck you.”
“Ha. Funny.  You’re funny.  Here’s the deal. You hand over the boxes, no one else dies.  No one gets shot.  No one gets bit.”
“Take them, I don’t care anymore.  Just take care of Lily.”

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