A to Z: Short Beginnings Z

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your Z word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

And thank you all who stopped by throughout the month. Z story will be posted tomorrow and don't forget to stop by during May to check in on my short story month progress and, of course, the A to Z wrap up post.

Y Story:

The first rays of light shown over the desert, revealing that Yvonne really was still in the middle of nowhere. She groaned, holding her hand over the gash in her side and again cursed the sign she'd missed about the hairpin turn, she'd also missed. The light of the morning did nothing to improve the sight of her crumpled car. Or the blood, both dried and fresh, on her shirt.

Nothing but empty road, yuccas and prickly bushes bearing yellow flowers in all directions. She wanted to scream, but it would probably just attract those yucky vultures. Instead, she stuffed the bottle of water she'd picked up the night before at a gas station into her purse along with the flashlight and lighter she kept in her glove box and struck out along the road the way she'd come.

A to Z: Short Beginnings Y

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your Y word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

X story: (ugh, X was hard! Thank you for all the suggestions so I could find a few that worked together.)

Ximena cranked up her music, glad the others in the lab had gone home so they couldn't see her singing her favorite Abba song, Xanadu into her microscope. She was just about to belt out the second verse when she caught what sounded like the door closing. Spinning around, she came face to face with Xenophon, her perpetually crotchety boss. Not that she blamed him, if her parents had named her for some ancient Greek historian that everyone had a hard time pronouncing, she'd have a chip on her shoulder too.

His eyes narrowed and his lips drew into a scowl. "What exactly are you doing, Ms. Fischer?"

She scrambled to close her music player on her laptop and return the screen to the chart she was working on. "Sorry, sir, it won't happen again."

"How is the study of the xanthium samples coming along?"

"Quite well." She zoomed in the chart, pointing at the x-axis. "See, I've isolated the genes that cause the burrs. We'll be able to pass them along to Dr. Washington for the trials tomorrow."

Ximena chewed her lip. Her stomach twisted and the muscles in her neck tensed. The few moments of relief from the music gone. "Are we doing the right thing here? I mean, what if the mutated crops get out of control? Starving our enemies is one thing, but we could be talking about an end to farming over the entire world."

A to Z: Short Beginnings X

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your X word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

W story:

Water lapped against the body washing against the beach, never quite finding purchase on the pebbled shore. Nearby, two joggers whispered. Winnie made a note to talk to them after she was done examining the body.

She peered over the windswept sand, hoping for more witnesses, but other than the wake of a speedboat that was quickly disappearing into the distance, and her partner, Pat Wiley, the joggers seemed her best hope for answers.

"Don't let them leave," she said to Pat. The sand worked its way into her shoes and ground against her knees as she bent over the dead willowy girl.

He winked. "Will do."

Winnie gritted her teeth, her new partner was far more interested flirting with her than following orders. She swore he only heard half of what she said every time she opened her mouth. "No, don't. Let. Them. Leave."

"Right." He grinned.

She swore he checked out her ass before he headed up the beach. That he'd made it through the academy was a wonder.

The girl's wooden limbs were a good indication of her time of death. Gauging by the rigor mortis and lack of bloating, she'd died overnight. The bullet hole in her chest seemed to scream that murder was involved. Winnie sighed and pulled out her phone to call for the forensics team, but the wireless signal was nonexistent out here. This was normally such a quiet town, but now she had a true whodunit on her hands.

A to Z: Short Beginnings W

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your W word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

V story (I liked this one so much that I actually finished it, but I'm only posting the opening here. Thanks for the inspiration to warm up for next month, where I attempt to write a short story every day.)

An afternoon of daydreaming amongst the wildflowers seemed the perfect way to forget about Kevin Valentine. The violets were blooming, both purple and white, which were her favorite, but each time her fingers plunged into the mass of heart-shaped leaves, she was reminded of the pain lodged deep in her chest.

She crumpled the delicate stems and threw the flowers to the ground. He thought he could sweet talk her into giving him what he wanted and then toss her aside? That villainous bastard had no idea who he was crossing.

Vanessa raised her face to the sky, gathering the summons to the winds. She rested a single finger on the vein on her neck, timing her words with the beat of her heart she felt there. Once the spell had been cast, she shed her clothes and gave a valedictory wave to the school uniform. The rumbled pile of cloth mocked her and the life she'd so desperately wanted to have, the one she'd begged her father for.

Already she could feel his begrudging gift of a human guise falling away, the soft, brown skin of her hands returning to their usual rough, grey-brown flecked with moss. Leaves sprouted in her long hair as it whipped around her face in the rising wind. Her cousins at the edge of the field swayed, murmuring of her return. Soon her father would hear and he would toss his victory in her face.

A to Z: Short Beginnings V

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your V word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

U story (wow, those were some challenging words!)

Uriah stood in the corner, feeling like an uninvited guest at his own party. The ubiquitous ukelele music Alex insisted upon wherever she went. The princess of the university had deemed his party worthy of her presence, but since the moment she'd arrived, everyone had all but forgotten he existed. His music has come to an abrupt halt as Alex had swapped out her ipod for his. His friends had turned their attention to her, showering her with unctuous conversation as if they were all so honored to be near her.

Minutes dragged into an hour and still not one person acknowledged his existence. He'd turned invisible, the friendly but ugly kid in the shadows.

Having had enough, he went to the door and grabbed his umbrella. They could have the stupid party and his roommates could clean up after Alex and her worshipers. He took one last look at the girls dancing in the living room, their faces flushed from their undulating and alcohol. They guys danced with them, drinks spilling on to couch, the carpet and each other. No one seemed to care that he was leaving. No one seemed to even notice him standing in the doorway.

Uriah slipped out of the apartment and into the hallway. He'd taken all of two steps before a loud crash sounded behind him. He dashed back into the apartment, hoping they'd not broken the couch or the table his parents had bought for him. Instead, a crowd stood still in the middle of the living room. The music sounded hollow in the room devoid of conversation. And then the first girl shrieked and the rest began to ululate.

He couldn't make out their words through all the sobbing. The guys drifted back, eyes wide, white-knuckled grasps on their red party cups.

Alex lay on the floor, face pale, blood trickling from her nose, mouth and ears. She started blankly at the ceiling, her ample chest still.

A to Z: Short Beginnings U

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your U word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

Sorry, life happened at the end of the week and I fell a little behind. S Story has been posted on T day.

T Story:

Tony urged his horse to fly over the grass. He had to make it back to the others before the tornado made touched the ground. The dark clouds loomed in the distance, the black funnel cloud reaching to the treetops. Trunks bent wildly, the leaves torn from the branches and whipping him in the face. The wind roared like the enraged tiger that was his totem.

He clung to the horse, keeping his mouth shut against the debris pelting him. When the teepees came into sight he let out a whoop of triumph. He'd have time to save them all.

Tony rushed into the teepee he shared with his mother and sisters only to run into the scowling form of his uncle. The towering man held a tomahawk raised in his hand.

His voice thundered. "What have you done?"

A to Z: Short Beginnings T

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your T word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

S Story:

They're going to be sorry, Sam thought as he slunk into the shadows across the street from the three girls. Their skimpy shirts and tiny skirts only served to make them sumptuous to the grown men slowly driving by. Any one of them could be a sinister scoundrel, out to leave a girl with a slit throat rather than some STD.

He caught the cloying scent of perfume as the breeze picked up. Those girls needed saving whether they knew it or not and he had just the thing. He reached into the chilled depths of the backpack he'd hidden beside a dumpster and removed three containers.

The round plastic tubs looked like yogurt. They even had a little red strawberry on the front. The girls wouldn't look close anyway. He could already picture their tongues running suggestively over the spoons as he slipped them into the containers. Sam straightened his t-shirt, bearing the same strawberry logo and plastered a silly smile on his face. Plain and goofy, girls never gave him a second thought.

Sam ventured back out into the light and crossed the street. "Would you three like a free sample?"

A to Z: Short Beginnings S

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your S word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

Thank you for all the word suggestions yesterday! It was hard to pick which ones to use with so many to choose from, but I tried to use at least one from everyone.

Many of you have asked where the rest of the stories are or what I'll be doing with these starts. The answer is: May. May is my usual short story focus month, where I either write/start a short story each day or try to finish one. Some days I just work on one. The point is to focus on them instead of novels, which is where my attention lies most of the rest of the year. Due to life being what it was last year, I have all of last year's A to Z short beginnings to play with this May as well. I will certainly not be lacking for material to work with. While I don't often post the finished short stories during May, because my intention is to submit and sell them eventually, I do try to post my progress each day so I hope you'll keep dropping by once April comes to a close. 

R Story:

Rod shooed the dog away so he could carry the gear inside without the flea-ridden ankle bitter sneaking into the bar. From the looks of it, the thing probably had rabies.

"Where is the damned roadie with my guitar?" Ruby's distinctively nasal voice cut through the heavy stage doors as if they were mere cardboard.

Her sound might make her a radio star, but for him and the rest of the crew, all it did was rattle their nerves.

"I'm coming, Ruby."

He glanced around, making sure the furry rascal wasn't lurking under the trailer. All he needed was for the dog to get in and set off Ruby's allergies. She'd be on an instant rampage. She was bad enough to deal with when she was in a good mood.

Not seeing the dog, he grabbed her mic case in one hand the guitar in the other. Rod fought his way through the door with both hands full and slipped into the artificial dim light of the bar. A couple patrons had already set up at the tables in the front, beer bottles sweating in their hands. Ruby sat in a chair on the center of the stage, sipping her rum and coke, like she was royalty.

"Hurry up." She glared at him. "Get it out. Let's go. I don't have all night."

"Right. Sorry," he said, but under his breath he muttered obscenities. Thankfully, the ruthless witch couldn't read lips.

The other band members when about setting up their own gear and gave her plenty of space. They'd all had their brief moment of romance with her over the past year they'd been on the road together, and every one of them had the emotional scars to show for it.

Rod carefully unpacked her guitar and set it in the stand beside her chair, making sure not to touch her. After he'd set up her mic and run the cables, he slipped back out to the trailer to check his own case buried under the backdrops they wouldn't be using in this small venue.

He flipped the latches up and opened the top. Inside rested a neat coil of rope. Tonight after the gig was over and the band completed their last ritual round of shots, Ruby was going to regret her lack of respect.

A to Z: Short Beginnins R

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your R word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

Q Story:

"Quit fretting Isabella, your hair will turn out queer and no one wants that at your coronation," said her grandmother who stood in the shadows.

The maid pulled the braids together and pinned them in place. Another put slippers on her feet and another placed golden bracelets on her arms. When her hair was finished, she moved to the quilted coverlet on her bed to relax while the maids cleaned up the bath and everything they'd brought out of the chests.

"You'll be fine, Isabella, you look the quintessential queen. Go on, they're waiting for you."

The whole seducing the king plan had turned into quite a quagmire, Isabella considered. After all, she'd never wanted to be queen. Her grandmother did. And after the coronation, she'd only have a few years, if she was lucky, to watch her grandmother fail. Tonight, when the moon was full overhead, they'd be switching bodies. The poor king had no idea what a mess his kingdom was about to become, and for that she felt bad. He was a kind man, and he'd been nothing but good to her during their courtship. But if she didn't complete the ritual with her grandmother, Isabella would be dead by morning regardless of her youthful body.

A to Z: Short Beginnings Q

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your Q word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

P Story:

Percy heaved a great sigh and slumped into the mud, staring at the sky so he could avoid the disapproving gaze of the bird on the fence. He knew it was there, he could feel it's beady black eyes staring down its beak at him. It had been every morning for the last week. But unlike the previous mornings, it hadn't left after he'd turned his attention to the clouds.

"Leave me alone."

It opened its beak and squawked, then settled into a regular bird voice."Why would I do that piglet?"

"Because I'm destined to wallow here until I grow up and turn to bacon. What kind of bird are you anyway? You're too colorful to be an oriole and that's the brightest bird I know."

"Parrot. Pretty bird." It squawked again. "Sorry, I hate when that slips out. Too many years in the pet shop." It perched there, preening its wings. "You can't turn to bacon, you know. You have to be here to have the farmer do that to you."

Percy lifted his head from the cool mud to ponder this information.

"Polly wants a cracker!" The parrot let out a loud shriek and covered its beak with its wings. "So sorry. It gets worse when I'm trying make my own sentences. My name is Piccasso, but the way."

"Nice to meet you." Percy stood, the mud dripping from his portly belly. "So what you're saying is that I could just not be here when the farmer come for me."

"Exactly that. How about an adventure, you and me, perhaps Paris or Pamplona?"

Percy squealed. "Both, please."

A to Z: Short Beginnings P

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your P word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

O story:

The oblong shadows stretched far out ahead of Olive as she left the parking lot filled with immaculately clean minivans and approached the school. Presenting her idea to the oligarchy that was the PTO, said with nose high in the air and a perfectly manicured brows raised on botoxed foreheads, was not how she wanted to spend her Tuesday evening. But someone had to make a stand about the excessive fundraisers that further alienated the students whose parents didn't have rich relatives or parents willing to lay down a couple hundred dollars every time a flyer came home for twelve dollar single sheets of seed-embedded 100% recycled wrapping paper or two ounces of rosemary-infused extra virgin olive oil in some hand blown bottle made by monks in some old monastery in some remote corner of the world.

She walked into the school, already able to hear the chattering pouring out of the library. She walked through the open door and immediately felt out of place. Her blouse hadn't been seen on a mannequin in at least a decade and white dog hairs stuck to her slacks. The comfortable flats that got her through the day in the office that was her kitchen table didn't exude the fashion and power that the women had who were now staring at her.

Olive took a deep breath and did her best to be oblivious to their obvious disdain. She took a seat at an empty table, her knees rubbing the top of the surface suited the height of elementary-aged children. Even the allure of freshly brewed coffee that she was sure was better than the gas station variety she allowed herself as a treat, wasn't enough to coax her out of the safety of her seat. She whipped out her three year old phone and pretended to check messages while the others slowly turned back around and resumed their conversations.  

A to Z: Short Beginnings O

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your O word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.\

Sorry, life happened last week, and prevented me from visiting blogs and keeping up with my shorts each day. If you did donate words, the beginnings for each day have been updated now.

N Story:

The noisy sound of nothingness surrounded Nancy like static in her ears after a loud concert.

A to Z Short Beginnings N

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your N word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

M story:
Michael leafed through the motorsports magazine, watching the scrawny, mangy-looking twenty-something satisfying his craving for munchies. He could see the outline of a pistol in the waistband of his too-tight-for-comfort jeans as he approached the cashier

A to Z: Short Beginnings M

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your M word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

L Story:

Lucy lurked in the laboratory, waiting for Dr. Link to leave so she could examine the results of their latest experiment for herself. She knew what he'd told her was a lie. The man was a lunatic. How any man could end the life of another in such a cruel way was unbelievable.

A to Z: Short Beginnings L

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your L word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

K Story - brought to you by the words: exhaustion and utter nonsense

Katherine slipped into her kevlar vest and patted her thigh to make reassure herself that her knife was there and ready should she need it. She turned to her partner. "You ready for this?"

"I am." Kippers flexed her giant feet and patted her pouch. She grinned and turned to face the knoll where the kiwi stood.

The kiwi leered. "You'll never take me in."

"You're going back to Kenya where you came from," decreed Kippers.

"Australia. I came from Australia." The kiwi looked to Katherine. "I can't believe the police resorted to hiring kangaroos."

JKatherine got her cuffs ready. "Show him why, Kippers."

Kippers took a single step and landed on top of the kiwi. She reached into her pouch and whipped out a koala. She flung the koala at the kiwi. "Take that!"

A to Z: Short Beginnings K

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your K word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

J story:

Jenna circled the jaguar with her six knives in hand. Giant golden eyes watched her with the same interest. Interest that might indicate the cat was ready to leap for her jugular at any moment.

"I don't think this is a good idea," she said for the third time since she'd met the cat ten minutes ago.

"Quit being such a baby," said Harold. "Just stay steady and don't make any sudden moves."

She knew the handler would know if one of the circus cats was truly posed a threat to her, but she couldn't help but sweat as she did the lap around the ring again. The cat kept pace with her, his steps much more fluid and graceful than hers. His teeth were much longer too.

"Isn't, you know, the whole juggling thing full of sudden moves?" she asked.

"Relax, I've seen you perform a hundred times. Your routine is very rhythmic. The only sudden move is the first one."

Jenna shifted the knives in her hand. She took a deep breath, kept an eye on the cat and tossed the first knife into the air.  

A to Z: Short Beginnings J

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your J word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

I story:
Charles regarded Isabella's invention with a critical eye, scanning up and down the shining silver tubes and jumping just a fraction as the tiny blue spark flared into an electric charge that made the hair on the back his neck rise. Not wanting to interrupt her while she made adjustments to the isotropic field that now surrounded them, he pondered the shimmering, semi-transparent surface from where he stood in the middle, marveling at her creation. Like peering through an icicle, the view to the rest of the warehouse outside the field was somewhat distorted and hazy, but still here, assuring him that they hadn't left reality quite yet.

The idea that leaving was actually possible seemed inconceivable. And he still wasn't convinced, which is why he was here now standing naked with his former student. He prayed to all that was holy that this wasn't some ignominious stunt, that the warehouse had remained empty and there wasn't a camera crew of disgruntled former students just out of his view laughing their asses off.

Isabella's fingers parted ways with the terminal attached to the equipment standing in the center of the field. "So what do you think?"

"Quite intriguing." He tried keep his gaze on the machine she'd created, but it kept drifting to other, more pleasurable points of interest. It had been far too long since he'd been this close to a naked woman, especially a young and pretty one, fairly beaming with pride and eager for his approval. Before he got himself into an even more embarrassing situation, he took a deep breath and plunged into cold shower thoughts.  

While she launched into an explanation into the mechanics behind her invention, Charles considered the Ice Age, his grandmother's hairy upper lip, crying babies, and the smell of the trash he was pretty sure he'd forgotten to take out this morning.

Isabella bent over, opening the tiny door near the bottom of the central tube. "This is the crystal I created that focuses the beam and..."

He had no idea what else she said. He turned away. Cold thoughts. Ice cream. He could lick ice cream off... Charles cleared his throat. "Why exactly is it that we can't wear clothes inside the field?"

A to Z: Short Beginnings I

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your I word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

H story...

Alexandra stared at the broken black ceramic heifer on the tile floor, tears welling in her eyes. Her muscles tensed as Grandmother shuffled into the room, drawn by the sound. Her cane tap tapped over the floor while the hard soles of her shoes scraped along with each step, muffled slightly by the thick layers of her long dark skirts.

Spittle flew from her thin lips and the glare of those eyes carved deeply into her wrinkled face turned Alexandra hollow inside. "Girl, what have you done?"

Honesty would only gain her a beating. Lying would get her more of the same. The switch in the corner haunted her nightmares.

She took one last look at the shattered heirloom and bolted for the door. With her own skirts in hand, her bare feet sped over the worn grass outside the cottage, scattering the chickens. She passed through the field and had just reached the edge of the wood when her heel struck a rock. Alexandra fell to her knees, cradling her wounded foot, barely budded chest heaving as she gulped for air.    

Blood dripped through her fingers. Crows squawked from the nearby branches and a cold wind stirred the tall grasses around her. Her harrowing escape from Grandmother's switch was only the beginning. She'd glimpsed the yellowed paper inside the broken figurine and that writing hadn't been ink. Helpless, the heavy weight of a curse settled upon her shoulders.

A to Z: Short Beginnings H

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your H word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

G story:

Looking for guidance, Grace turned to her best friend and gave her the most pathetic boo boo lip she could muster. "If I can't convince Gary to play the game, I'll never pass the summoning test."

Gladice rolled her eyes, immune to the lip. "Goodness Gracious, Grace, pick someone else! He's not the only boy around. All you need is a guy to kiss you so you can open the gate." She flopped down on the bed next to Grace. "And you could get any guy around to kiss you with that lip."

"But Greg isn't any guy. He's all hot and smooth like gravy."

Laughter rolled out of Gladice until hiccups took over. "Gravy? Your mother must make it different that mine, lumpy and with this scary sheen of coagulated greasy bits on top."

Grace sighed and rolled over to face the ceiling of the dorm room they shared. "You're not helping."

A to Z: Short Beginnings G

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your G word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

F story:

The loud smack of flesh hitting the fender made Greg slam on the brakes. He prayed for all he was worth that whatever it was hadn't dented his father's car. He'd never be allowed to drive it again, and it would be a solid year of working at Franks-N-Steins before he'd afford his own. At least one that Shelly wouldn't mind being seen in.  

The night air was cold as he got out of the car. He was glad for the coat his mother had insisted that he wore over the dress shirt and tie. His father's tie. He just hoped he didn't look as stupid as he felt wearing it once he picked up Shelly and they got to the dance.

As he rounded the front of the car and hesitantly approached the passenger side, a chill ran up his spine. Yes, there was certainly a dent there, but that wasn't the most frightening thing. Frankly, the thing sprawled on the ground with long gnashing teeth, glowing red eyes, and one leg pinned under his tire won top prize in that category.

A to Z: Short Beginnings F

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your F word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

E Story:

The echoing emptiness of no suggestions left the writer at a loss for words. 

IWSG and A to Z: Short Beginnings E

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your E word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

D story:

Darcy sipped her dandelion tea and fought to keep a straight face as Nathan continued his rant.

"What if I wanted to marry Dukes?"

Tea nearly shot from her nose. Darcy coughed until she had things set back to rights and set her tea aside before it happened again. "Look, I understand you have tastes that most might call odd, but really, Nathan, your dog?"

"I'm not saying I do want to, but if I did, I'd have to move to a different state. The damn churches control the entire government around here and they smile and call it democracy. They claim that everything they do is for our own good, that they're taking care of us. I want choices."

"So disestablishmentarianism?"

"Exactly, I knew you'd understand."

"And you plan to find that where? Because I doubt anyone is going to allow you to marry your dog."

Wow, another month has passed. It's been a productive month at least. I managed to wrap up the first draft of Bound In Blue in time to have a couple days before April to play with edits on Sipper, a sci-fi short story

Which brings me to the conundrum of the month. I ran Sipper though my usual critique process and got good feedback. Edits were made and the story was sent out into submissions. The editorial feedback I've received along the way indicated issues with the flippant and snarky main character. So I tamed her down a little and sent the story back out.

Then comes the feedback that pointed out at major logic hole. It was a severe headdesk moment on my part. How had not only I missed this, bit the whole critique gang had also overlooked it? No idea.

A third of the way into a major rewrite, I read through the feedback again and realized a major issue that negated all the work I'd just done. Yes, there was a detail that desperately needed to be fixed, but the whole reveal at the end hadn't worked for this particular person. As in, they totally missed it, and the majority of the rest of the feedback beyond the logic problem was worthless because it was all answered in the reveal. The reveal had worked for everyone else.

Ah feedback, it can be frustrating and confounding. And this is why we all need many sets of eyes so that when one misses something, hopefully another will catch it, or go about reading it differently so that issues come to light before it burns through half my usual submission list. But even the best of systems occasionally fails and then, well, after recovering from the headdesk forehead bruises, we have to take a deep breath, edit yet again, and send that sucker back out there until it finds a home.

A to Z: Short Beginnings D

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your D word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

C story:

Cornered, Janice cowered, praying anything in the world would rescue her from her mother's wrath.

"What were you thinking?" Her mother towered over her, hands on her hips, lips in a scowl that made Janice's stomach twist up in knots.

"I thought it would make it taste better," she whispered.

"Celery? You idiot girl. You do not put celery in Corned beef and Cabbage!"

Janice tried to disappear into the shadows and dust. Her mother had that crazy look in her eyes. The one that she'd had before the dog had vanished, before her father had left months before. He'd never come back either. Her mother had claimed that he'd run off with some other woman, that'd he'd deserted them. But Janice hardly blamed him. If she was old enough to survive on her own, she would have run off too.

A to Z: Short Beginnings C

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.
YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your C word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

B Story...
Upon first copying the words I'd been given into my blank document, I had in mind to write a cute little story about a beagle and a bumblebee. Then I got pulled away from my computer and didn't end up writing the story until Sunday morning. So, uh, yeah...it appears the story veered in an entirely different direction.

Barry Beagle sped down the highway, the traffic blurring beside him as he zigzagged through the lanes. His phone buzzed on the plastic console somewhere under the pile of wadded up fast food wrappers like a bumblebee that wouldn't go away. Knowing it was his boss, because no one else ever bothered to call him, he blindly fished through the garbage and located the phone.

"Your delay in arriving to work is aggravating."

"Good morning to you too, you bombastic ass," he muttered under his breath. Barry switched the phone to speaker and dropped it on his lap so he could pay attention to the road. "I'll be there in three minutes."

"You better be, or consider yourself fired."

Literally, he was sure. Beelzebub loved fire.  

Barry ended the call and concentrated on weaving through traffic at his current blazing speed. Other drivers swore at him, gave him the finger, flashed their lights and honked their horns. Barry laughed at them all.

Then he spotted it, the gas truck, it's bulbous chrome tank gleaming in the morning sun. He punched the gas, the laughter bubbling up from deep inside until tears ran down his cheeks. The boss was going to love this.

The tanker truck was straight ahead. Barry tapped the back end of the single car between him and his goal. The car went spinning off to the left. The screams of the passengers as they slammed into the car in the next lane filled him with glee.

With the gas pedal to the floor, he aimed for the back of the truck. The boss would do the rest. Barry held his arms out wide as the car slammed into the tanker, propelling onto its side as it jackknifed into the heavy traffic of the morning rush on the highway. The glorious fumes tickled his nostrils as the fuel gushed from the punctured tank. And then the spark of his own car exploding ignited it all.

Barry extracted himself from the wreckage. His clothes had burned away, allowing his wings the freedom to unfurl and his long forked tail room to lash from side to side as he walked through the flames. From the sheer number if blacked souls snaking about in the chaos he'd created, he was sure he wasn't in trouble for being late. In fact, he considered as the boss summoned him back to hell, he might even get a promotion.

A to Z: Short Beginnings B

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.
YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your B word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

** Thank you to everyone who stopped by with suggestions yesterday. If I didn't get to your blog, I will. Unfortunately, during a dinner preparation mishap last night, I sliced off the tip of my right index finger. As you may imagine, this has slowed my typing considerably (and I'm supposed to be keeping it elevated. oops) and is now making much of what I normally cram into a day, take much longer. **

And now... the beginning of A story.

Adam threw his apple across the room, pegging Angelina right in the forehead. He ducked down behind his friends, hoping she hadn't seen him. The apple was suppose to have hit Jim, but he'd seen it coming and had ducked.  If Angelina told the teacher, he'd get in trouble. Again. He was always getting into trouble.

Mrs. Keebler wasn't in the room, which was most auspicious. He'd had enough of that old wrinklebag's perpetually angry face. She was probably down in the teacher's lounge eating some gluten, sugar, carb and calorie free snack,  or whatever it was that made her breath so bad.   

 In the teacher's absence, it seemed the Angelina was going to take matters into her own hands. Those hands were currently balled into fists at the end of the arms pumping at her sides as she marched over to him. Her aquamarine dress fluttered around her knees and then stilled like a sail that had lost its wind.

 Adam sunk into the chair beside Charlie. Unfortunately, even Charlie's aquiline nose couldn't hide him from her glare.

 "I'll be amazed if you can get out of detention this time. Yeah, that's right, I'm telling and there's nothing you can do about it jerkface."

 He knew he should be worried, that he should be defending himself, or at the very least, working up a comeback, but all he could manage while staring into those avocado green eyes, was wondering how even her irate voice sounded like angels singing.

 "Quit staring, weirdo," she said.

 That's when he noticed it wasn't just that her fists were clenched, but that one of them held the apple and now softball queen Angelina was winding up for a tie-breaking pitch to his nose.