January 2, 2012

• I’m a Winnetou

  So a couple days ago I got a package in the post and guess what was inside!

  It was my awesome prize from the even more Awesome @bmojsilo s Winnetou Contest. So thank you Boris for transporting me to the WildWest and I shall get to reading it a soon as possible

  Also thanks to Rez for her part in the prizes and all her support of the XWWC. You are both Lovely people!

  Oh yea also, it’s gone now for some reason but there was an FB App that came up with an amusing grave stone for you and when I did it it said as my epitaph “Was Visited by Chuck Norris” LOL Boris I’m scared :S hehe

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  And now since this has something to do with writing here’s a story, but it’s not WildWest in nature it’s actually a follow up to this Story Which a couple folks including Nadia @xXxlovelylollipop and @lakakalo asked for a second part or continuation for.

  Also thanks to the suggestion of @promisesunshine I have altered the age of the girl in the first part to a couple years younger.

  So it’s just short and i’ll try to write something more Western styled as celebration of my new book soon but for now here it is:

  ~Part one Here~

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  If she defocused it almost felt like time was moving in slow motion as the long desert road flew under the car. The roof was down and Grace’s long blonde hair blew up and around her face as trucks and cars rushed by, she’d been driving for three days, sleeping under the stars down dirt roads or in truck stops.

   

  Her mobile vibrated on the dash and the first few cords of Lyle Lovetts ‘In My Own Mind’ fought the wind to be heard before she answered.

  “Hey Mom….no I’m not gonna make it….I’m out of state, no, no…I’m not going to be back for a few days…well okay…I’m sorry I guess……yea I’ll speak to you later”

  She threw the phone back on the dash and flipped her sunglasses up as she squinted at the approaching sign.

   

  The prison was only another 100 miles.

   

  Everything inside was grey or pale green and dusty, it felt like somekind of storage warehouse. As she passed through the first few outer gates she could feel the eyes of the guards on her, she felt out of place and suddenly vulnerable, on her own surrounded by locked gates and armed men who all seemed cold and detached a trained lack of concern.

   

  Eventually the final door opened on the visitor room, it was large and blank apart from ten or so small tables with cheap plastic chairs huddled around them. Only one or two were occupied by other visitors and men in orange jumpsuits speaking in low murmurs, or just staring in silence at each other.

   

  Grace picked a seat that was caught in a shaft of warm sunlight that streamed in through the sharp concrete window, she then waited feeling the shadows of the window bars pass over her face as she gently tilted her head from left to right in the sun.

   

  It was almost 20 minuets before the door at the far end of the room opened, at first only a guard emerged. Grace shielded her eyes from the sun as she peered into the darkness of the doorway, then an orange jumpsuit appeared and Nate Parker walked slowly into the room.

   

  He paused when he saw her, he was older and his face was harder but he was the same man she’d met all those years ago. After a moment he continued and made his way slowly between the chairs and tables, eventually slipping into the chair across from her and resting his cuffed hands on the table.

   

  They sat there in silence for a while neither willing to look at the other, until eventually their eyes met.

  “Why’d you come here?” Nate asked almost angry.

  Grace smiled and looked down at her hands on the table.

  “I’m 21 now…I think I’m old enough to make my own dumb mistakes okay?” She said not looking up.

  Nate looked away at the sun pouring through the window. “I’m not getting out of here ya know”

  “Yea I know”

  Moments passed again, in silence as the two stared at each other, thoughts racing mouths still.

  “You happy?” Nate eventually asked.

  “Yea, I’m happy” she smiled as she spoke and looked into the distance.

  “I’d bail you out if I had the cash…we could go to a motel…and play cards”

  “Heh you just want another chance at beating me huh?” Nate said with a rye smile.

   

  Once again silence descended, until Grace finally spoke.

  “You weren’t going to see me were you?”

  “No”

  “You didn’t want to see me?”

  “No”

  “No you didn’t want to see me or no you didn’t not want to see me?”

  “You’re the only person I’ve wanted to see for years Grace”

  They stared at each other again and time passed. Eventually the guard knocked his night stick on the wall. It meant there was only five minutes left.

   

  “Why’d you come here!…Why!” Nate held his head in his hands, as he massaged his temples.

  “I don’t know…can you tell me?” Grace asked as she lent forwards and gently touched his hand.

  “Please keep your hands on your side of the table miss” A guard leaned forwards form the wall and pointed at her outstretched arms with his night stick.

   

  Silence once again fell on the table. Eventually time was up and the guards moved in slowly breaking up the groups and escorting the orange jumpsuits back to the small door at the back of the room.

   

  Nate and Grace stared at each other in silence until the heavy hand of a guard landed on Nates shoulder.

  “Please come back to see me” Nate looked into her eyes for as long as he could after he spoke, until he was lead away from the table.

   

  Grace watched him go, unable to speak, unable to move. Her only thought was of that night, lying listening to him breathing beside her, of the feeling of simply knowing he was there.

   

  That night she checked into the nearest chain motel to the prison. But she didn’t sleep, most of the night she just lay staring at the dull neon glow of the motel sign through the cheap drapes…The Cactus Flower Motel.

   

  • 5:56 pm
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