Jun 06 2008
Successful Experiment = A Completed Story
You did it!!!
Our experiment was a success! You have won my heart. Today, Friday, June 6th, 2008, CreativeNachos has its first short story written in cyberspace by a group of people, most of whom don’t know each other. I’m so proud of you for making this a reality.
You have inspired me to create. You’ve shown me that anything we can dream, we can bring to life. Your willingness to share, to unleash your imaginations on this playground is something I treasure. The fact that you all found a way to work together to see it through to the end is amazing.
Now, CreativeNachos proudly presents, It’s All Invented, a tale written by Bridget, Scott, Judy, Danielle, Rowena, Chris, Nicole, Claire and Lorrie.
Please feel free to share your reactions, thoughts, observations, and celebratory remarks in the comments section at the end of the story. Let us know how you liked the ending. Enjoy!
It’s All Invented
A Short Story written by Bridget, Scott, Judy, Danielle, Rowena, Chris, Nicole, Claire and Lorrie
Lisa’s life was unraveling. On the one day that every single minute counted, Steve was already a half hour late. As she strode back and forth across the office floor, panic settled upon her. For a split second she thought of jumping out the window, hoping in her car and driving away. The thought held such appeal that she raced to window; that’s when she saw him. Two stories below, Steve paced back and forth on a small patch of grass that separated parking spots, like a tiger trapped by water. Dressed only in boxers and a pair of black socks, he waved his hands in the air and muttered to himself like a mad man.
In that moment, Lisa almost felt sad for Steve. Of course, she was furious with him but he was a decent guy and knowing his history, the two years spent in the nudist colony after college, and recent loneliness, there was a part of her that couldn’t help but feel sad. It had only been six months since leaving the colony and he was still adjusting to “life on the outside.” The fact was she couldn’t really understand why the basic concept of putting some clothes on before going out in public continued to escape his mind. More importantly she couldn’t understand how this man had become such an important part of her daily thoughts, of her life.
Actually, it was her brother’s fault. When she admitted to him that she’d been working on an invention, she’d expected that others in the world might be thinking about the same thing but she never imagined he’d know someone who was building the exact same thing. His suggestion that she and Steve meet to discuss it had initially enraged her. For once in her life, she’d wanted something she could lay claim to, something she could call her own. She was willing to offer him money to stop building it when she met him. Granted it was money she did not yet have as she had sunk everything into this idea but she was desperate. However as they talked, she realized that he had answers to her obstacles and she had thought of things he hadn’t yet. It occurred to her then that they might be more effective together than separate.
That night brought tears to her eyes. She’d been intoxicated by their ideas, by him, and by the endless drinks she consumed. It was as though they were celebrating a victory they had yet to attain. It continued at her house where their clothes evaporated as they walked through the door. As she watched him, she cursed that night.
Now, weeks later, she knew that the pregnancy test she’d been carrying around for days would be positive; Steve was the father. She feared that her unborn baby would suffer the same illness as Steve; a disease that caused one to crave nudist colonies and sleep with married men or women depending upon the baby’s sex. There would be no way to hide this from her husband who was due back in a week.
As she watched him, a funny thought occurred to her. Too often she’d wish she had become a school teacher like her mom but in this moment, she wished she’d been a therapist. She pictured Steve, a client, coming to her for years with the same problems. She’d try to help him but she imagined him making little progress, showing up late and half naked time and again. Colleagues would take bets on when he would forget the boxers. Steve’s never-ending case combined with the mundane normalcy of her life helping her kids with their homework, cooking dinner for her often absent husband and writing her seemingly endless case notes would cause her to lose it one day as Steve entered her office. “You really AREN’T too sexy for your shirt, Steve!” she shouted out loud. A moment later, she heard someone behind her clear their throat. Mortified that she’d screamed out loud while alone in her office, she slowly turned.
Caroline walked in the door.
“Hey, Lisa,” she said, pointing back over her shoulder. “Did you know that guy who’s always panting around you is out in the parking lot waiting for the men in the white suits?”
Lisa thought about explaining that he was really her brother’s friend who was crashing on her couch. She wanted to tell Caroline that she just remembered how she’d forgotten to flip the laundry in her haste this morning. All of Steve’ clothes remained in the washer as she rushed out the door leaving him asleep on the couch. She wanted to say that she hoped the power had gone out and that he had not woken wishing to start a clothing revolution.
Instead, all Lisa could say was, “I know.” As she thought about the big interview, the one where they would promote their invention, she said, “I think I’ve made a big mistake.”
***
As Steve paced back and forth uttering words of gibberish, the thoughts of having sex with Lisa wouldn’t leave his head. Yesterday, Steve would have said it was the best sex he’d ever had but now, the thought was horrifying. Early this morning, Steve received a phone call from his father telling him that he had wonderful news. As his father babbled on about some woman he met at an office retreat 27 years ago, Steve was trying to get dressed so he can go and meet the woman of his dreams. Then his father dropped the bomb. He said “Steve, you have a sister”.
As the worst words Steve had ever heard replayed in his mind he couldn’t help but feel nauseous. He continued muttering to himself.
“I mean ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I spend all of these years in a nudist colony having random sex with hundreds of women and even some men without repercussion or even incident and its when I re-join the real world, start working towards a capitalist goal and find a woman who makes it all worth it that I become the star of the world’s worst Jerry Springer show?? How could this happen? What will I tell Lisa?”
Lisa…saying her name out loud now brought Steve back to that night. To the many times he proclaimed her name in ecstasy.
“Stop!” “Are you crazy? She is your SISTER! You will NEVER say her name out loud again!”
The office parking lot was beginning to fill and as Steve’s voice started getting louder, he drew more and more attention.
“Ohhhh, if you only knew, you smug drones! You have no idea!”
For the first time, Steve felt jealous of the boring lives of these drones. They wake up, take out their business uniforms, stop by Starbucks for overpriced coffee and have a day just like the day before. What Steve would give for such monotony today. Who needs this type of excitement? Just as these thoughts passed through his head, he saw Lisa’s blonde hair shining through the front door of the building.
“Oh GOD, she’s coming!” Steve was shaking.
He wanted to run. Instead, he leaned over to straighten his left sock. Then he slowly stood, and met her eyes. Her glance flickered for an instant as she noticed the remote control in his hand.
“We Must Begin Again,” he said, as his finger depressed the button and everything went white.
