Word-Count Wednesday #3 (2/8/17)

This week (since Friday) has been a bit tough.  Both by son and myself are sick this week so I haven't gotten as much accomplished as I would have liked to this.

What Am I Working On:
I finished "The Glasses" as a news broadcast - Magical Realism - Experiment #5

I also finished the the opening section for narrative I'm working on this semester. 

The Lab (A better title later perhaps)

Prologue

Mary shivered as she pulled the blankets up around her shoulders in the delivery room.  The room was cold and she was worried.  Worried something might be wrong with the baby.  This pregnancy didn’t feel the same as the first.  She’d delivered a health and beautiful baby boy just two three years prior and her son Gabriel is a delight.  Such a wonderful and high spirited toddler.  Always into mischief.  Always pulling things out of the lower kitchen drawers and screeching off in delight when Mary attempts to catch him to have him replace the contents.  

Mary and her husband John are hoping for a baby girl to round out their little family.  When they initially tried to start their family, they experienced heartbreak of 2 miscarriages.  That seemed to be becoming the norm in society as they shared their story with friends or family.  Mary and John had learned of several other couples experiencing the same problems with either becoming pregnant or staying pregnant.  One evening when Mary was over at a friend’s house for a girls wine night, she met a woman who worked at a fertility clinic.  Lindsay was her name and she was smartly dressed, even for a ladies wine evening, and very friendly.  She had given Mary her card and said that Dr. Klein, the man she worked for, was an expert at helping women achieve pregnancy.  He and the researchers at his clinic had developed a new serum that assist women in achieving pregnancy.  LIndsay insisted that Mary call the office on the following Monday to set up an appointment.  Mary politely accepted Lindsay’s card, but had no intention of calling.  While heartbroken at the two children she lost, she wanted to try again the old fashioned way.  When she went home later that night and shared with John what had happened.  John encouraged her to call.  John had been just as devastated about the miscarriages and thought this sounded like a good omen and that she should pursue it.  

The sound of John’s voice in the hallway brought Mary out of a dazy sleepiness she was beginning to feel.  It almost sounded as though John was arguing with someone.  Mary couldn’t be sure, things were starting to fade a bit.  The nurse came in and started to check on her when she realized Mary was bleeding.  Her sheets and blanket were soaked in the bright red hue of blood.  Mary had been given an epidural about an hour before so she hadn’t felt anything as well as a drug to place calm her down, but it made her sleepy.  Still in her dazed condition, she could tell by the nurse’s gasp at the sight, something was wrong.  The nurse turned on her heels and ran out of the room, quickly retrieving Dr. Klein and her husband John.  Dr. Klein took one look at Mary and ordered the nurse to immediately prep and move Mary to an operating suite.

Mary looked at John and asked him what was happening.  In an attempt not to worry her, he said, “Nothing sweetheart, we’re just moving you to another room so you can deliver our daughter.”  They chose not to find out the sex of the baby.  They loved having it be a surprise as it was with Gabriel’s birth.  But they were convinced it would be a lovely baby girl who would look just like Mary.  Mary simply smiled a sweet and loving smile back to John and said, “Ok my love, let’s go.  I can’t wait to meet our daughter.  Tell Gabriel I will see him soon with his new baby sister and that I love him with all of my heart.”  

Twenty minutes later, the life of that mischievously, sweet little boy would be changed for ever.  His mother Mary and his lovely little sister were both gone.  


Word Count: 652


How Do I Feel About The Process:
I think if I were feeling better this week I would be feeling better about the process, but I am proud of myself for writing something.  It's a start.  I'm enjoying the process of writing, pausing to ponder and think, and then coming up with another idea.  I'm not saying it's all great, but at least I'm "trying" and I'm happy about that :)  

In writing "The Glasses" news broadcast, 'holes' in a story became evident to me.  I asked myself "can't people see the crazy things happening in the Subway when they walk by?" So I noted that the employees had  had closed the blinds.  This is a simplistic example, but something to think about.  I realize as a writer, you have to ask the obvious questions a reader might ask and then answer them.  

For "The Lab", I heard or read somewhere to write what you know.  The antics of Gabriel as a toddler is my son, Mason.  He used to love taking out ALL of the baggies in their boxes in the kitchen drawers.  Or completely gut the storage container drawer. Much to my chagrin. Looking back now, I think it's hilarious.  

And Lindsay's name is a friend from my yoga class.  

I chose to to have Gabriel's father push his mother into using the fertility treatment because I need he and Gabriel to have a conflict later in the story.  Gabriel will question his existence.  Was he mean to exist at all without help?  How much intervention should be done?  When does it cross the line from simply helping someone to achieve pregnancy because they want a family, or doing it because you think you're playing God or for profit.  I need to flush all those questions out.  I'm thinking there needs to be a larger impact, a bigger question, but I haven't come up with it yet.  I will though ;-) 

What Am I Reading:

T.S. Elliot - "The Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" & "The Waste Land"

F. Scott Fitzgerald - "Winter Dreams"

Ernest Hemingway - "In Our Time" Chapter 1-5