Saturday, January 7, 2012

Cliffhanging


Jenny's pulled a fast one on us this time...or maybe I should say a slooooow one...because this Centus is going to play out over two weeks. Yep, we're doing a cliffhanger today, one that continues and concludes next Saturday. 100 words each, plus the prompt, which (as always) is in red. Fun, eh?

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Cliffhanging
©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson


4:50 am.

Jan's morning began in the living room, neck protesting a night in her chair. She’d been sitting sentry there (off and on) for years, awaiting errant teenagers, welcoming them in before lecturing them soundly.

But this welcome was too slow in coming. Sean should be home. Trembling, she grabbed her iPhone, exhaling slowly. Nada.

What good were these stupid cell phones, anyway? They made not hearing from your kids even scarier. Especially when their idea of fun was hanging off a cliff. Literally.

Sean knew how she worried. “I’m alive,” he always texted, teasing her. Maybe there was no reception.

Her limbs froze when the doorbell rang. The knocking (urgent, pounding) froze her soul...

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21 comments:

Christine said...

will he walk in with crutches? I wonder...yes that idea of the cell phone making you worry more is so true, gave my boy my phone yesterday, it was his first driving experience in two feet of snow on the highway. he did not answer the phone, I panicked, then my coworker said, just look out the window to see if the van was parked at the hairdressers he was going to. sure enough it was there...he forgot to take the phone with him....

jen said...

This is one of your best, friend. Love where it's headed, and can't wait to hear about Sean. Brad's brother Dan does this, and it scares his mom to death. He's had a few bad experiences, I'll admit.

Unknown said...

Definitely a good cliff-hanger!

Brian Miller said...

ooo and you mean i got to wait all week...come on...is it the cops...a silly neighbor that knows no better and wants a cup of sugar....perhaps the son...or aliens...smiles...fun one...

anitamombanita said...

good one... reminds me of how I feel each time Luke goes snow boarding...and he's one that loves the flips and jumps and all the daring-do...can't wait to see how it ends...

Daydreamer said...

Oooo... Need to see what happens next week now.... haha

Judie said...

The one time I was two hours late getting home, the next day my father really gave me a lecture. Problem was, I HAD called him to let him know, but he had been asleep and he FORGOT!! Good story, Sue!!

yaya said...

Nothing worse than waiting up for kids and nothing worse that phone calls or visitors after midnight...unless it's a newborn! Can't wait until next Sat!

Viki said...

A parent's worse nightmare. Can't wait until next week to see what happens.

21 Wits said...

Oh what will there actually be at the door....and now we have to wait all week to see...oh I know how these things can lead us one way...and oops it all turns in another direction! I shall have to wait and see which way you travel with this great lead!

Tracy said...

Any parent knows the feeling good one

Rek Sesh said...

Some many possibilities behind the door...some scary, some not. Your writing creates the perfect cliffhanger, great effort.

Unknown said...

This one was a real nail-biter! Well done, Sue!
Best wishes,
Anna
Anna's SC Week 88 Cliffhanger

Caroline said...

This is one of my all-time favorites, Sue! Chilling! Was it him? Was he alive? Great cliffhanger!!!



p.s. I've stopped by a few times before only to be interrupted by the children before I could comment. Things have been crazy here--first on vacation then we ALL got sick. Anyway, now we all seem to be much better! I've missed you!! :)

Ames said...

Oh lord here we go. Are you and Jenny in cohoots together? You're trying to give me a heart attack. I'm thinking the worse things down here. I always do. I've prayed and asked God to not let me have such thoughts but they just keep coming. Maybe I'm psychic. Dunno. But if I was I'd be lousy at it. I once dreamed of my Korean neighbor falling down the stairs when she was carrying her new baby. She was wearing flip flops. I felt the strong need to call and warn her. When I did she told me she fell the day before, but manage to protect the baby. So I guess I really am a day late and a dollar short.~Ames

Jennifer said...

I get lost reading your blog. (: I wanna be like you one day.

Donna said...

It's bad enough to wait to see who is at the door at the moment...but you are making us wait a WHOLE week??
Really my boys rappelled and used to scare me to death, they even broke their sister's arm doing it (that stopped it) but I've never had to wait all night to know where they were. I'd have been scared out of my mind!!

Grandma Honey said...

With your mind, I'm sure you are going to take us on an interesting adventure. Can't wait.

alpinekleins said...

Ouch! That is a cliff hanger :) Love your blog - so good to be back here again . . . ahhhhh <3

Kristin

Jo said...

oh, this is a good one Susan, I can't wait for your entry on Saturday!

Jenny said...

Darn. Darn. I need to skip ahead but I won't let myself.

I know these emotions.

And I know that knocking.

I hope it's not what my imagination thinks!