Triple Scoop!
Story: Jinxed! (?)
Piece: Are you a good witch or a bad witch?
By Jillian Stephens
Prompts: Milk Chocolate#26 Ignorance/Marshmellow#15 Kids at Play/Coconut #16 Them's fightin' words
Word Count: 546
Rating: PG
Summary: Jessica has an interesting paranormal experience during early adolescence
Notes: Story Summary/ Main Characters/ Index/ Prompt Lists
"Don't talk to them. They're freaks."
I looked over stung by Cheryl Thomson's words. My friend and I were at a local park and I was approaching the group to retrieve a ball that had gone astray.
I must have been about 13 years old and the school year had not gone well for me because of her. Cheryl was the popular one. She lived next door to me and her parents had poisoned her mind with ignorance. Since I was small, I tried to be friends with this little girl but she had rejected me and did nothing but make fun of me and my family.
My parents are unusual people but good people. They dress in black usually and are very open about their interest in witchcraft and the occult. Only one person had befriended me at school -- a little girl with whom I am still friends with as an adult, Kelly Murphy, who also lived on the block and hated Cheryl Thomson with a blinding passion.
"Shut your fucking mouth!" Kelly called as she stormed up the Cheryl and her group. The girls laughed. "What are you gonna do?" Cheryl said.
"Punch your face in!" Kelly said.
"I'll tell my mom! Then she'll tell your mom and you'll be in trouble," Cheryl said smuggly, stepping up close to Kelly. I touched Kelly's shirt and shook my head vigorously.
"She deserves it, Jess!"
"Come on," I pleaded. I never liked violence and the negative vibes surround the group, psychically ,was like an electric storm brewing on the horizon. I could feel it entering me.
"Better watch out for Jessica. Her mom's an evil witch who'll cast spells on all of us," one of Cheryl's friends added in a sarcastic tone with a look of exaggerated fear. The group laughed again.
"Her mom's crazy. We all know there's no such things as witches. Only retarded stupid babies believe in witches," Cheryl said smuggly. "Her dad's crazy too. He talks to himself." Her friends all laughed.
"He thinks out loud!" I said, fiery anger crackling within me. Even Kelly looked at me with surprise. I rarely raised my voice, but even I have my breaking points.
"And we're keeping the ball," Cheryl said gesturing to her friend who held my red rubber ball in her arms.
"Give that back, it's mine!" I said.
"No, you can't have it or else I'll tell my mother you pushed me and started trouble at the park."
"Go ahead! What difference will it make! My mom and dad both know you're a liar!"
"Make me give it back, Crazy Jessica. Cast a spell on me! Use your magical powers!"
I could feel energy gathering around me and filling me. This wasn't an alien sensation. The trees around us began to stir. I focused on her and unable to contain the energy I released it and Cheryl fell on her bony little butt. The ball flew out of her hands and landed at my feet.
Unable to believe what had just happened, I just bent over and picked up the ball. The group stared as I ran all the way home with the ball tucked under my arm.
I knew magic was real but it had never before felt so palpable.
Story: Jinxed! (?)
Piece: Dress for Success?
By Jillian Stephens
Prompts: Milk Chocolate #4 Initiative/Marshmellow #5 Hand-Me-Downs/Coconut #5 Does this make me look fat?
Word Count: 715
Rating: PG-13 (Language!)
Summary: Jessica is figuring out what to wear on her first day with a new boss
Notes: Story Summary/ Main Characters/ Index/ Prompt Lists
I eyed myself in the mirror. I had never ever dressed all in black.
Chris hated my wardrobe. I was about to start my job as his personal assistant , after the death of his father, who I loved working for and wished well on his journey. Anyhow, I figured I'd try something different for my first day on the job with his son, Chris, as my boss. I was a bundle of nerves.
"So, why do you want to go through my closet? Our taste in clothes, like the remainder of our traits, are polar opposites," Jen said.
"Well, I'd like to try something different," I lied with a tense smile.
"You never wear all black."
"No, but I'd like to try it." Chris and his girlfriend Suzanne were both fond of wearing black -- sometimes all-black. "Did you buy this for an interview?"
"No, actually that's the only time I don't wear any black. Do you want to try my navy interview suit?"
"Right. Not considered a good idea for an interview, and, no, I specifically wanted something black."
"What for? Wasn't your boss' wake last week?"
"Yeah."
I repectfully dressed in black for my now ex-boss' wake and funeral with a dress borrowed from my sister Jennifer's closet.
My sister had always been thinner than me so her rusched black skirt, lace blazer and scoop neck top were a bit snug but I squeezed into them. I thought it made me look a bit on the heavy side. Wasn't black supposed to be slimming?
"Do I look heavier to you, Jen?"
"No, you look the same to me -- that skirt is a bit snug in the hips, though."
"You always had smaller hips than me," I said with an exaggerated pout and twinge of envy.
"Yeah, well, still not as small as I'd like them to be."
"Stop, you're skinny. You've always been skinny."
"So, are you going to borrow it or not, Jess? What's the verdict?"
"OK."
"Are you going to tell me the real reason why you want to go to work dressed all in black or not?" she asked leaning against the wall with a smirk.
"Do you know already?"
"I don't need to utilize psychic abilities to tell something's up that you don't want to tell me."
"You'd make fun of me terribly."
"Are you trying to impress someone?"
"Yeah."
"You're new boss, perhaps?"
"Yeah and he has a wardrobe like Johnny Cash."
"You don't still have a crush on him, do you, Jess?" she asked with a scowl. "He sounds like a total asshole. The way you described him yelling at people around the office. I don't think he's going to be easy for you to deal with.You really think my outfit will get him to notice you?"
"His girlfriend wears a lot of black."
"So? She's stuck with the prick. Let her have 'im. I'm sure he's a total pain in the ass to have as a boyfriend."
"I don't know what it is, Jen. I just want to try this," I said, practically pleading.
"Go ahead. Let Dickhead see you all in black. See what it does for your cause. Although, I don't think it's going to do anything necessarily."
"It may help, though. He hates my clothes. I can sense it."
"Yeah, have to agree with him there."
I laughed. "What's wrong with being colorful?"
"You're color palette is like a box of Crayolas gone wild," she said with a laugh.
"Well that's me."
"And that outfit is totally not you so why do you want to wear it? To impress some asshole who doesn't appreciate you? Do you think dressing in black will make him notice you? Seriously, Jess, come on."
"What are you saying, Jen?"
"Just be yourself and forget about that douche-bag."
I sighed and looked in the mirror again. Jen was right and I was happy that she said what she did.
"Jess? Are you OK?"
My little sister looking out for me choked me up a bit. I smiled and gave her a hug. She looked at me confused. "So, are you borrowing that or not?"
"No, I won't. Don't get me wrong. It's beautiful but it really isn't me," I said with a smile.
She smiled back.
Story: Jinxed! (?)
Piece: Meet My Parents
By Jillian Stephens
Prompts: Milk Chocolate#20 Surprise/Marshmellow#28 A Compliment/Coconut #11 Don't get me started
Word Count: 393
Rating: PG
Summary: Jessica is figuring out what to wear on her first day with a new boss
Notes: Story Summary/ Main Characters/ Index/ Prompt Lists
In Case You're Curious: Don't You Start Me Talkin' Lyrics
"Dad, this is Keith..." my sister said, gesturing to a very nice looking young man. It was the first time we were meeting him, around Christmastime. He looked like all of my sister's boyfriends -- cute Goth guy.
"Mr. Reilly," he said, holding out his hand.
My dad threw back his head and laughed. "I'm looking around for my dad when you say that ...it's Joe!"
"Cool. Joe."
"Keith. Sit," My dad said grinning from ear to ear and gesturing to the couch.
"Hi, Keith," my mother said. "I'm Maureen."
"Nice to meet you," Keith replied.
"This is my sister, Jessica," Jen said with a smile.
"Nice meeting you, Keith," I said wth a big smile. I grabbed his hand and shook it and he smiled back.
"Likewise," he said, taking a seat on the couch. I stretched out my senses but couldn't sense anything really negative in his aura or in his emotions. Hey -- I was concerned for lil' sis, OK?
He was eyeing my Dad, who was also all dressed in black as usual, complete with dyed black hair and a skull earring. I suppose you can say I'm the rebellious one in the family with my bright patterned clothing. I must say I was sticking out like a sore thumb as usual in my lime green sweater and crimson capris.
Keith didn't know what to make of Mom and Dad. I would think Jen gave him a heads up about Dad and Mom but he still couldn't believe our parents were actually kind of ...Goth!
"So, Keith what...do you...do?" My dad asked, still grinning from ear to ear.
"Graphic and web design."
"Cool," My father said with, still smiling.
Keith smiled and his aura showed signs of amusment. I smiled. He seemed OK.
"Cool outfit," My dad said, referring to Keith's black jeans, t-shirt, scarf and blazer.
"Thanks...Joe. So, Jen tells me your a supermarket manager."
"Yeah, I'm the night manager. I'm very....nocturnal," my dad said.
"Interesting job?" Keith asked.
"I don't know ...if I should get started on that," my father said, breaking into laughter. When he finished he abruptly began singing a song called "Don't You Start Me Talkin'." I couldn't help but smile. Jen rolled her eyes and Mom seemed like she was suppressing laughter.
Dad. He's amusing to say the least!