Paragraph of the Week (Part 32)

Well, again, it has been a while. But, let’s not lament over lost time. Instead, here is another paragraph in the story “Waves.” We are getting to the end so hold on!

“I could never figure out why she loved the thing, even she didn’t know. Every time I asked her, she said she couldn’t remember where she had gotten it from, just that she had it ever since she was a little kid. When I doubted her once, she whipped out a picture of when she was four and showed me the thing. And there it was, plastered around her neck.”
“She was a good woman.”
“Too good.” John sighed.
“You know, I’ve never really ——”

Paragraph of the Week (Part 29)

Between work and school, I tend to forget about the blog here. But not completely! We’re still chugging along here, and we will be for a long time. Now, I won’t keep you guys from the next paragraph. Here it is.

The street lights popped on and yellow light filtered in through the bare tree limbs. John glanced up at the snow flakes that momentarily blocked out slivers of light, moving his hand to his chest and feeling the emptiness. A pigeon sat on top of the post. It burrowed its beak into its feathers, pecked at them and whatever else was nestled close to its body. A feather fell, drifting down and landing on the sidewalk. John watched it, stepped over it, and feigned a smile.

Paragraph of the Week (Part 23)

See? I’m not dead! If you thought I really had perished (or worse yet given up), I’m sorry to disappoint. Weddings, as most of you know, are very time consuming and planning for my own has taken up large chunks of my time. To make up for it, here’s a decent sized chunk for this week’s Paragraph of the Week!

“Come on,” Jacques said, motioning to the meal. “It is pretty good.”
“You never answered my question.”
Jacques smiled. “Let’s just eat in peace.”
“After all these years, that’s all you have to say?”
“There’s a lot I could say, but I don’t believe it is the time for it.”
“Then when will it be the time?”
“Soon.”
John snapped his chopsticks in two. “Fuck that.”
“Monsieur, easy now. Why are you so upset with me?”
“Why? WHY? You ran out after…after…she…” John rested his forehead on his trembling hand. “I just wanted to talk with you.”
“And now we are talking. Just…just be patient. It is all I ask. Nothing is easy these days.”
“Yeah, nothing is easy.”
They ate in silence, staring at the food and the table. When the meal was finished, Jacques threw a twenty down, stood up, and opened the door. John followed him, a gust of cold air lashing his flesh, raising his skin in bumps and pricks.
Jacques stopped just outside, eyes focused on a strobing streetlight trying to blink on. “Is that going to be all for today?”
“Let’s take a walk.”
“Guess we need to catch up on old times, right?”
John nodded and reached for the missing key that should have been around his neck. “That, and I could use some help.”
“With what?”
“Dropped something earlier. It’s a two man operation to get it back, so I’ll need your help.”
“Then lead the way.” Jacques half bowed and flourished his hand.

Paragraph of the Week (22)

For those still following along, here is another paragraph to feast on. Will there be more posts now that my most recent work is complete? Will our hero save the damsel before the train runs her over? Tune in next time to find out!

The waitress, a thin girl with a lace fringed smock, stained with a rainbow of colors, dropped off the orange chicken, a bowl of rice, and two sets of chopsticks. She smiled and went back to talking with her coworker behind the register. Jacques flourished one of the napkins, placing it on his lap and breaking apart the chopsticks. John watched him peck at the rice and chicken.

Paragraph of the Week (21)

And we’re back to our regularly scheduled program. On a quick side note, I believe I said I would make a post about writing a novel and how consuming it becomes. Well, as you can see, my theorem holds true (or I’m just lazy). One of these days I’ll do it. One of these days (and the book is almost done now)…

Well anyways, to make up for the lack of posts, another longer edition of the paragraph of the week. Enjoy!

John watched Jacques tap the board and put in the order. He lingered in the front, staring at the men behind the bar, watching them throw a piece of meat on the flames. It sizzled and cracked, the tiny space filling with the aroma of frying chicken. Jacques turned, coming back to the seat with a grin.
“She said they will bring it out to us in ten minutes,” Jacques said, sitting down across from John.
“Uh huh.”
“I was surprised when you called me today. I didn’t even know you were in town.”
“Don’t know who was more surprised, you or me. Never thought I would call you again, not in a million years. How could I?”
“Easily it seems.” Jacques laughed.
“Funny, it’s all so funny. I wasn’t even sure the number Jones gave me would work, not after you ran like that.”
“I didn’t run.”
“Then where were you all those days after? Why did you leave the force the very next day? I go there, trying to talk to you, and I’m told you left. Then I go to your apartment and it’s vacant. You know what that says to me? It just screams ——”

Paragraph of the Week (18)

Remember how I said writing a book consumes everything and I would make a post about it? Well, that’s coming. It didn’t come this week because…well…writing a book takes over everything. Anyways, this week’s paragraph is a bit early and pretty long (I can’t just put one line of dialogue for a paragraph, it would technically be true, but it would also be cruel). Enjoy!

“I wouldn’t miss this, not after what happened before. I’ve been wanting to talk to you ever since you ran.”
“I’m the one who ran?” John raised his voice, drowning out the warbling violin music. “YOU are the one who ran. I tried to talk to you that night. But…but I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
He shrugged. “They called me into the station. I wanted to be there for you, but what could I do?” A smile appeared along with his tongue.
John smiled back, clenching his teeth and forcing his quivering lips to stay upturned. “Part of the job.”
“How about some orange chicken then?” Jacques said, looking over to the board
“I’m not that hungry.”
“We can split it. How does that sound?”
“If you want, go put in the order.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m really not that hungry.”
“But monsieur, I don’t want to eat it all on my own.”
“If you order it I will have some.”
Jacques nodded, pushed out his chair, sending grating noises throughout the restaurant. “One orange chicken coming up.”

Paragraph of the Week (17)

Ah and here we get to the trickier parts. Dialogue. I’ll post a little more than a paragraph for these. Enjoy!

He was wearing a black suit, no tie, the front open. A gust of wind shot through the closing door and nearly lifted off his black fedora; his thin hair whipped around, the single pony tail like a scourge on his pale skin. His face was pointed, his nose the end of an exclamation point. His eyes were dark, maybe brown, maybe black. Red jutted out over his worm-like lips; when he licked them, John couldn’t help but think of a snake sensing prey.

Turning from the board, eyes narrowing, John said, “Guess you are right. For a while there, I didn’t think you would come.”

Paragraph of the Week (Part 14)

Another week, another paragraph. Enjoy!

John shook his head free of the memories of those days and pushed open the restaurant’s door.
The inside was bright, lit by recessed lights in the ceiling and paper lanterns stuffed with Christmas lights. It was small, with room for only a dozen tables, all of them equipped with soy sauce and stained white table cloths. John watched the chefs. On another day, he might have sat at the sushi bar and watched them chop and hack and laugh and cook. Instead, he walked over to a spot near the door, sat down, and stared out the window.