So I think I would take this new board for spin around the block. This is something I wrote several months ago. Mostly to try a different, for me, way of storytelling. It moves back and forth from effect and cause in that order. I wrote this in about an hour. I have shared it a couple of times in private and the response I received indicates it might be worth continuing.

As I suspect many of you probably do, I have several unfinished ideas laying around. When I saw this new board was up, I thought of this story. I love to hear some feedback, both good as well as constructive. A lot of my inspiration for this comes from Sara H and FBH. Who, if no one has managed to guess are two my favorite authors in the archive.

This is 4-4 Time. It clocks in at 1009 words.

It is late afternoon, a security officer sits in front of a bank of video monitors from cameras placed at various locations around the city. On one of the monitors he notices an attractive young woman with striking long red hair navigating pedestrian traffic on a downtown sidewalk. She is wearing a short green dress and is impressed by her long legs. She’s only in the camera’s view for two or three seconds. Though she is so strikingly beautiful, the image lingers in the officer’s mind.

Continuing to walk beyond the camera’s view, the young woman’s phone announces a call. She reaches into her handbag to retrieve her phone, and sees the call is from her best friend.

She thinks to herself, ”why would she be calling me today?”, “Hi Zaida! How’s my BFF today.”

“Couldn’t be better, today is perfect. I was just missing you Lindsey and wanted to hear your voice.” Zaida replied.

“I’m so glad you called, I miss you too. I’m just out running some errands.” Lindsey smiled.

“Hey, you want to hear something I heard today?” The tone of Zaida’s voice is mischievous.

Lindsey stops walking. “Yes of course I want to hear.”

Zaida speaks slow and measured. “The water in the deep well runs clear.”

Lindsey drops her phone into her handbag, her expression becomes blank. She turns to her left and walks towards the building in front of her, She enters the pub and spots her target sitting at the bar.

“Excuse me sir, is this seat taken?”

Morning News Flash! “This morning we received an anonymous package with a series of photos which display Mega Tech Corp’s CEO Andrew Thomas engaged in sexual acts with a young woman. We’ve contacted Mr. Thomas’ office and have been informed Mega Tech Corp will host a press conference later this morning.”

***A young woman is laying on an exam table, on her back, completely nude. Her face as well as most of her upper body is wet. A drop of water lands on her forehead. She can’t see the source of the water. All she can see above her is a bright light which obscures everything else. The light is so bright she needs to keep her eyes closed.

She knows what the drops are intending to do to her and she’s trying to resist. She’s been counting the rhythm.

“One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.” <drip>

Over and over she’s been counting out the same four beat rhythm. She no longer has to think. Her head hurts, she can’t sleep. She knows that’s part of the technique. Another drip…

“One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand, four one thousand, five one thousand.” <drip>

The woman screams unnerved by the pattern, the rhythm is off.

“One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.” <drip>

She sighs and relaxes, the rhythm is back.

“One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.” <drip> Over and over again. The woman is back in sync.

Someone is next to the table, the woman is not able to see who it is, the light is too bright.

“How are you L? Is your body intune with your mind?” A voice from an unseen woman standing next to the table.

“I know what you are trying to do, and I am not going to give up.” The woman lying on the table protests.

“Are you sure L?” Her voice is now silky.

The woman on the table protests. “My name is not L, it’s Lindsey!”

“Oh I’m sorry I forgot introductions. My name is Zaida and I’m pretty sure your name is L.”

Lindsey tries to ignore Zaida. “You bitch!” She screams. “You’ll never break me.”

“Oh, we will see.” Zaida purrs.

<one one thousand” <drip>

***Lindsey steps onto the subway car. It’s not too crowded so she takes an empty seat. Directly across from Lindsay is a woman about her age. The woman smiles at Lindsay. Their eyes meet. Lindsay thinks, “that was a mistake.” She’s tired and just wants to get home. And now she has to be polite to the woman, she would rather read her book.

“Heading home?” The woman asks.

“Yes, it’s been a long day, I can’t wait for it to be over.” Lindsey replies.

“I know exactly what you mean.” The woman sighs. “I love your dress.”

Lindsey relaxes,the woman seems nice. “Thank you, I bought myself a birthday present.” Lindsey smiles.

“Hey have you ever seen one of these?” The woman holds Up a square of yellow cardboard.

Lindsay stares at the card and begins counting to herself “One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand, four one thousand.” She remembers this is her stop. She stands up and moves to the door. She stares straight ahead waiting for the train to stop. When the train stops, she steps off and makes a sharp left. She recognizes a man walking her way. Just before they pass, she accidentally drops her book directly in his path. The man stops to pick up her book.

“This just in; Congressman Smith has been brought in for questioning for an alleged sexual assault.”

***L is sitting at a table performing an important task. On her right is a large container of marbles. On her left is a similar container, though it only contains a few marbles… so far.

L picks up a marble on her right. “two one thousand, three one thousand.” She drops the marble in the container on her left. She repeats the process again in perfect rhythm.

Zaida walks up. “Hello L, you may take a pause from your important task for a minute.”

“Zaida!” L beams. “I am so happy to see you.”

“You’re such a good girl. It’s time for your vitamins. Remember you don’t need to worry, it won’t hurt at all when I press the needle in your arm. You’ll just feel a little aroused is all.”

“Yummy!” L claps.

Name:	Reason:	Banned:	Expires:
James Kirk BRUCE WAYNE Myan empire	Sock puppets.	2/26/2022	Probably never

These accounts have been determined to be sock-puppets (for the same user), and have been blocked.

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Last for this batch, my Thoughts on Advent Calendar:

The main highlight of this one, for me, was how deliberately and methodically it progressed. Every day, every picture, we are presented with a little piece of programming. Sometimes it's subtle, and sometimes it's so obvious, even the protagonist figures it out. But each day is a discrete step on the inevitable road to the end. It was a pretty neat structure, and turned into a nice, enjoyable story.

Oh, also read Daughter, so I have a Thought about that.

Short and exceedingly concise. Tells you what it's all about pretty much right away, but still has a small surprise or two along the way. Squicky for some, I'm sure, but lively and fun to me.