The Bettermost Drabblefest: Please Join In!

[stonebiscuit]

Second chances

Winter, 1987

The strobes cut through the dancefloor, brilliant blades of white light illuminating throngs of barechested boys. Red-hot faces eyeing each other, even the plainest of faces made striking amidst the smoke and mirrors.
From his perch in a secluded corner booth, two boys caught his eye, one dark-haired and confident - his brilliant blue eyes radiating unbroken hope, the other, a gangly dishwater blonde whose awkward movements betrayed his feigned entrancement.
The straight gin is his hand was failing to quell his moving thoughts, a wintry mix of meandering melancholy and ripe regret. He was contemplating leaving when a shadow fell over his table.
"Wanna dance, stranger?" the pure voice belying the lined face that met his own when he raised his head.
"Um, ok" he managed, the words spluttering like the first water through a dry pipe.
The two strangers danced together, unstirred by the stares of the teen crowd. And then they were standing together on the cold street bracing against the unforgiving early morning air.
"I'll see you around, huh?", the words seeping out of a cautious smile,
After a pause "Right.", said Ennis.
Driving away he eyed the dark stranger is his rear-view. And his heart skipped a beat.

[mariez]

Second chances

Winter, 1987

The strobes cut through the dancefloor, brilliant blades of white light illuminating throngs of barechested boys. Red-hot faces eyeing each other, even the plainest of faces made striking amidst the smoke and mirrors.
From his perch in a secluded corner booth, two boys caught his eye, one dark-haired and confident - his brilliant blue eyes radiating unbroken hope, the other, a gangly dishwater blonde whose awkward movements betrayed his feigned entrancement.
The straight gin is his hand was failing to quell his moving thoughts, a wintry mix of meandering melancholy and ripe regret. He was contemplating leaving when a shadow fell over his table.
"Wanna dance, stranger?" the pure voice belying the lined face that met his own when he raised his head.
"Um, ok" he managed, the words spluttering like the first water through a dry pipe.
The two strangers danced together, unstirred by the stares of the teen crowd. And then they were standing together on the cold street bracing against the unforgiving early morning air.
"I'll see you around, huh?", the words seeping out of a cautious smile,
After a pause "Right.", said Ennis.
Driving away he eyed the dark stranger is his rear-view. And his heart skipped a beat.

Wow.  My heart skipped a beat, too.  Thanks, stonebiscuit. 

Marie

[mariez]

Some random prompts for today:

• middle-class
• "The Sound of Music"
• indigo

Marie

[August7th]

Sunday night, February 29, 1976, and virtually every middle-class home in Childress, Texas, had its television tuned to ABC. Not every day that a movie like “The Sound of Music” comes on TV for the first time. Solid family entertainment, and Lureen had made sure that her family watched it. When the movie was over, she couldn’t stop praising Julie Andrews’ voice, and Bobby talked about how exciting it was when the family escaped from the bad guys at the end. Jack’s only comment was, “Sure got them some pretty mountains over there.”

[mariez]

Sunday night, February 29, 1976, and virtually every middle-class home in Childress, Texas, had its television tuned to ABC. Not every day that a movie like “The Sound of Music” comes on TV for the first time. Solid family entertainment, and Lureen had made sure that her family watched it. When the movie was over, she couldn’t stop praising Julie Andrews’ voice, and Bobby talked about how exciting it was when the family escaped from the bad guys at the end. Jack’s only comment was, “Sure got them some pretty mountains over there.”

August, that was perfect!  What great use of the prompts and Jack's comment was so touching and true.

Thanks,
Marie

[mariez]

Okay, let's see what these prompts can inspire:

• fraud
• Wall Street
• power

Marie

[mariez]

Bull Riders

December 31, 1978

Jack took a sip of Jim Beam and tried to maintain a neutral expression, wishing midnight would come and go so they could leave this damn party.  L.D., holding court on the "men's" side of the room, jabbed his cigar in the air for emphasis, looking so much like a character in the B movie Jack had watched on the late show the night before that he had to suppress a laugh. 

"Who you need to listen to are those Wall Street guys."  He lowered his voice.  "Lehman Brothers is the word.  Thirty years from now you'll be thanking me."

~~~~~~~
100 Words

[ifyoucantfixit]

     "Ennis how many years we been married now," Jack asked? " I think its eight" he replied.  "Well you would think that
by now those stupid, people at the power company would have our address right."  "Why whats wrong with it bud?"  "Well
we been livin in this same house that whole time, and they still can't seem to get it right."  "I have called and called them over
and over again, and it don't help none."   "Where do they have us at?"  "1722 Wall street.  Instead of 1722 Hall Street."  "They
must think we're some o' those dumbass frauds up there in New York."  " Heh, probly  so."
\104wds

[Monika]

Bull Riders

December 31, 1978

Jack took a sip of Jim Beam and tried to maintain a neutral expression, wishing midnight would come and go so they could leave this damn party.  L.D., holding court on the "men's" side of the room, jabbed his cigar in the air for emphasis, looking so much like a character in the B movie Jack had watched on the late show the night before that he had to suppress a laugh. 

"Who you need to listen to are those Wall Street guys."  He lowered his voice.  "Lehman Brothers is the word.  Thirty years from now you'll be thanking me."

 

~~~~~~~
100 Words

[fernly]

     "Ennis how many years we been married now," Jack asked? " I think its eight" he replied.  "Well you would think that
by now those stupid, people at the power company would have our address right."  "Why whats wrong with it bud?"  "Well
we been livin in this same house that whole time, and they still can't seem to get it right."  "I have called and called them over
and over again, and it don't help none."   "Where do they have us at?"  "1722 Wall street.  Instead of 1722 Hall Street."  "They
must think we're some o' those dumbass frauds up there in New York."  " Heh, probly  so."
\104wds

Great use of the prompts!

Bull Riders

December 31, 1978

Jack took a sip of Jim Beam and tried to maintain a neutral expression, wishing midnight would come and go so they could leave this damn party.  L.D., holding court on the "men's" side of the room, jabbed his cigar in the air for emphasis, looking so much like a character in the B movie Jack had watched on the late show the night before that he had to suppress a laugh. 

"Who you need to listen to are those Wall Street guys."  He lowered his voice.  "Lehman Brothers is the word.  Thirty years from now you'll be thanking me."

~~~~~~~
100 Words

Just noticed the title. 



Thank you both. It's nice to start the New Year off with some new drabbles.