Tomorrow

The familiar comfort of Frank’s faux-leather recliner rocked and lulled while the TV blathered through the drowsy fog. Endless late hours finally caught up to her. Stress, worry and insomnia conspired against a good night of sleep. She pushed info on the remote; 12:37 a.m. Clara shut the TV and lights off and stumbled to the bathroom for a hot soak, and a little bit of “The Girl….” to soothe her into sleep.

She was running on empty. Trying not to confuse rearviews with sunrises.

Sinking into the steamy heat, head back, eyes closed, hand and kindle dangled.

“Tomorrow. Tomorrow.”

~*~

Last time with ”Faith from Ruin”  ~ Misplaced Hope

One year ago I began this story with a song, “Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne. This week 100 Word Song had the same song chosen as a prompt. Maybe this is chapter Two. I still love this song and Jackson Browne. I close my eyes and feel 16 again.

Misplaced Hope

Shane plugged the address into his Samsung and tossed it onto the Camaro’s leather bucket seat. Calling WesLea’s was a good idea. He knew she’d give Clara up. She was weak and  had a soft spot for him. Of course Clara would eventually reach out to family, and she did.

He’d persuade her, bring her back with  flowers, candy, promises, whatever the hell she wanted. He still thought they were just two fools in love.

He muttered,  “God, I miss the honky tonks. Milk shakes at Dairy Queen, and 7-Eleven’s Doritos.”

580hp roared onto the highway,

“I must be crazy.”

Last time with  ”Faith from Ruin”  ~ All Right

A new installment written with the 100 Word Song prompt at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog. The song this week is (Nothing but) Flowers by The Talking Heads. Lots of material to work with in this song.

This installment finds Clara’s sister WesLea is creating issues for Clara consorting with Shane.

(Nothing but) Flowers Talking Heads

 

Hope Disappeared

”Faith from Ruin” last time ~ Bittersweet

When Clara met Shane, he was little off track. The year off college was meant to refocus his goals, but he never went back. She met him in a bar where he was a regular. He had a table in the back and with a tip of his head, the bartender delivered her a copy of her Chardonnay with a wet napkin and a nod toward Shane’s table.  His allure was like magic. She easily coasted into him. His embrace plunged them downward.

Hope kept her there until all she wanted to do was disappear.

Above and Below

Flexing my writers muscles,I’m headed back to various prompts and 100 Word Song is one of my favorites.  Sharing a love of music with the creator, Sir Lance makes it a natural choice for me. I got all confused and originally clicked on the wrong post where he wrote with the song “Welcome to the Boomtown”. It is one of the best one hit wonders. Ever. Such a shame too because it was worthy of so much more from this duo. So I wrote to that song. Then I clicked over and saw my error. Found the REAL 100 Word Song choice was “Above & Below” by Bravery, which I found I really like lyrically and musically. With a little work I was able to rework this piece and include it into the story. So you get a twofer!

Boomtown fit Shane well with his drinking, abusive yet charismatic guy who pulled Clara into his orbit. Above and Below fit Clara for the last line.

Be Happy

”Faith from Ruin” last time ~ Guardian Angels

Supper, hearty and bountiful finished, they shared hugs and good nights with the Lerners’ and walked to their room. Lucy grabbed the remote and clicked the TV.

“Luce, it’s late need to get ready for bed.”

“Aww mom!”

Clara’s small smile and sideways look exposed the mischief brewing, “Aww mom? What did you say? Aww mom? I’ll show you aww mom!”

She grabbed her daughter, rolled onto the bed with her, exposing her baby soft belly, “Lovebuzz!” and blew a loud zerbert to gales of uncontrollable wiggling and laughter.

She smiled again, “You ready for bed? or you want more?.”

LeeRoy over at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog chose this weeks song in honor of his robot brother Lance’s discovery of Nirvana 24 years ago. The song he picked was “Love Buzz” and you can click over and give it a listen.

Clara and Lucy are beginning to feel happiness especially in this moment of silliness. Don’t Worry be Happy is a favorite smiling go to song for me. I can’t help but tap my toes and sing along.

 

Leave it Behind

Lucy carefully stabbed pancake bites, and swirled each in strawberry topping as she chewed the previous forkful. She ate with such pleasure, Clara could almost taste the strawberries and cream.

Fatigue finally caught up and her mind wandered. She’d been losing sleep dreaming about the things that could have been. She’d prayed so hard, but it was useless. She was ready to take her past, burn it then throw it in the river. She had to leave it behind and start over. Determination replaced anger and regret.

Hot bacon and eggs waited. She smiled, worry erased, and hungrily began eating.

Lance and LeeRoy called on me to pick this weeks song for 100 Word Song. I am currently obsessed with Counting Stars and One Republic. Can not get the song out of my head and it was a great fit for this installment of Clara and Lucy’s story.

The last Faith from Ruin post was The Long Road. < Click on the link and catch up if you missed it.

 

Evil Robots

Last ”Faith from Ruin” installment — The Threat

Shane hung up and the iPhone’s screen went black. A smile twitch her mouth and she shook quietly, laughing. He was like an evil robot trying to defeat her, operating on a program designed for every abuser. As a dispatcher she’d heard it all. Laughing tears flowed as she remembered and wondered how she found one of those robots.

Lucy slept, and she wanted a cold drink. Inside she wiped tears and kept chuckling.  At the register she grabbed a vitamin pack and thought, gotta be strong to fight him. Take lots of vitamins. It’d be tragic if Shane won.

100 Word Song, Lance, LeeRoy and Jen provided inspiration with the song “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” by the Flaming Lips. Interesting lyrics and I lifted a few and the theme of battling from the song to continue Clara’s story of escaping an abusive husband.

The Threat

Last ”Faith from Ruin” installment — Charming Lucy

Nearing five hours driving, Clara stopped for gas. Lucy slept; she pumped. Distracted, she absentmindedly answered her phone before looking.

“Clara what the hell is going on? I’ve been calling and no one is giving me any answers. Where are you?”

“We’re leaving Shane. For good and you KNOW why so stop calling.”

Thumb ready to press “End”, Shane shouted,

“WaitWaitWait!”

Exasperated, “What! What do you want Shane?”

“I know I go hard and I don’t always do what I’m suppose to, but you need to come home Clara. You don’t? I’ll find you. Nobody’s gonna see me coming.”

100 Word Song-Classified

Linking up with Lance and LeeRoy at My Blog Can Beat up Your Blog for the 100 Words Song. Carrie did the choosing this week with “Classified” by Inner Ninja. Not my style of music so I did a lyric search and found some great inspiration there for this installment. I added a different song by a band that, well is awesome, classic, amazing. Pink Floyd’s “Don’t Leave Me Now”. Yes. And the lyric is creepy and stalker-ish and very Shane.

Remembering

****Click here for previous installment of Vivid Black –> Not Sorry

The door was closed to Ray’s office.  Henry, seated in the leather sofa matched the sunken, saggy, sad form. They discussed Cliff Lewis’ interview and it was tense and disheartening. Those bits of information put a clear-cut suspect in their radar.

Heavyhearted, Henry pondered, “Can you remember the moment? God, he was barely out of the Academy. Devastated. Dealt a big plate of crap. Didn’t think he’d get over it.”

Outraged, Ray responded bitterly.

“Did you forget that time? He laid Schweitzer out? Devastated is no excuse, and he got over it way to fast.”

“I know. He’s my partner.”

In my “busy-ness” I didn’t write last week. LeeRoy’s song choice for 100 Word Song this week has my brain racing with the potential. Lance made a great choice letting his robot alter-ego do the choosing. Indie Rock Band Free Energy’s song “Free Energy” is really. good.

I’m back with Vivid Black and there’s a lot of stress with Ray and Henry as they got a devastating lead from Cliff Lewis.

To read the entire Vivid Black series so far, Click HERE.

Not Sorry

****Click here for previous installment of Vivid Black –> Misbehavin’

Head jerked to escape the vicious, painful memory. Doomed to his life’s chain of events, he leapfrogged to Kimberly. Dead Kimberly. Druggie cheating wife Kimberly.

Then Josh. Dead Josh. Cheating best-friend Josh. Kim, dead from an overdose. Josh, dead at his hands. Remorse didn’t mar the achieved redemption.

He thought “nothing is my fault.”

Head tipped back, eyes closed, smiling, he remembered the release, the satisfaction.

He exhaled, bent over and bloused tactical khaki’s over his Danners. He shrugged into his leather, and slid the shiny star onto his belt.

Vivid Black get’s it’s second post today with Lance and LeeRoy’s 100 Word Song. Dawn at The Dawnie Project chose this weeks song “Sorry For It All” by Dead Sara. I’m sorry to say I’ve never listened to anything from this band, and I’ve really missed out because this is a great song.

To read the entire Vivid Black series so far, Click HERE.

More Revelation-Nuthin’

****Click here for previous installment of Vivid Black –> Shocked Response

Henry’s insides fluttered and lurched. He worked hard to keep euphoria, relief and shock from unwinding.

“Ozzy, he’s not making a joke is he? Come on Cliff.”

He stepped forward, snapped cuffs from belt onto wrists, reciting rights from his well used memory. He handed Lewis off to a sullen glaring Osborn who steered him outside and into the backseat of the car while Henry settled into the driver seat.

Cliff, broke his shocked silence and whimpered, “I didn’t do nuthin’. I found ’em like that.”

Osborn, folded back inside the car turned,

“So, you’re waiving your right to counsel?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Linking up with My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog where Kath did the song picking this week. She chose a great song, “Galileo” by the Indigo Girls. I peeled out a few lyrics for inspiration for more Vivid Black.

To read the entire Vivid Black series so far, Click HERE.