Red Dawn Pt. II, POV

It had been four years since Walt had seen home. Ever since the invasion of London, his life became an unpredictable maelstrom of change. He longed for the simpler days in Calgary. Teaching high school physics was not a particular hobby of his, but being able to spark inspiration in a few of his otherwise belligerent students was worth the effort. From wielding Bunsen burners and demerits to proton cannons and human heads, Walt's last few years had indeed seen some change.

“I should really start acting like I’ve got some survival instinct.” Walt muttered to himself, snapping out of his reflective haze. He peeked his head out from the safety of a shipping container he had found refuge in. The ruins of the fuel depot around him fit his mental image of what a battlefield would like. The smell of diesel in the air was intoxicating and the fiery heat, almost unbearable. Canadians were not built for hot climates. Struggling to form a plan, Walt knew this was no time to gripe about comfort.

Walt flew out of hiding, the thrusters in his suit let off a crack like thunder. He blasted the last remaining fuel tank and perched himself on top of the base’s gymnasium. He had made his intentions clear. Walt intended to make a stand.

A bright reaction of lights followed by faint warmth danced across Walt's face, as artillery rounds blossomed to life in front of him. "They weren't trained in lobbing artillery at a man-sized target." Walt gleaned to himself as their fire for effect, had none. "Ugh, and I've never trained to fight off an entire infantry battalion on my own."

With just a matter of time before the artillery batteries could bracket Walt in for an easy kill, he made a dash for the treeline just behind his lab. He noticed his brown Escort sitting unscathed in the employee parking lot, almost upset even World War III couldn't get rid of it. With a more important task at hand, Walt regains focus. He has a hunch the Russians placed their command and control assets behind the safety of the mountain wilderness behind Black Mesa. Owing most of his military strategy knowledge to a few Sun Tzu quotes and a childhood playing Civilization, it was the logical choice. If he could convince the guy in charge of the whole invasion this was a bad move, he'd have victory in his hands.

Reaching the summit of a glaciated peak, Walt got to savor the rare joy of being right. In the valley below him, lay dozens of satellite dishes, tents and vehicles, all strewn about in haste like Burning Man. He surmises the "big one in the middle" is where the head man lives, if only he had he means to get down there. Their little makeshift city was surprisingly well fortified for time they had to establish. He knew if he made too grand of an entrance, Russian aircraft or even satellites might be able to relay his position.

....

Assignment for 7/22: Point of View/Characterization

In class, we talked about the strong voices of the characters who narrate "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "A&P."  For your assignment, I would like you to write a passage of 400 words or more, that shows a living breathing human behind the story.

Don't worry too much about plot, just create a narrator with a distinctive voice.  Try to avoid exposition.  Don't *tell* us who the narrator is with phrases like, "I was born in Albany New York to a family of hairbrush salesmen..."; *show* us who he/she is with his/her thoughts, observations, actions, and dialogue.

Epic Fail

"I am now leaving!" She called as she exited her domicile, stepping daintily
over the abyssal gaps between each plank of wood on her deck.
She warily eyes the uneven ground, steadying herself for the odyssey ahead,
and then takes the first step forward on her treacherous trek.

Wading through uprooted nails and scattered shoes she pursues level ground.
While evading and contemplating the merciless onslaught
from a plastic bag, the sun appears and casts blinding light from around the corner.
In defense she thrusts her hand to the sky, eyes ignited.

Ceasing her journey to regain her bearings, she judges the terrain before her.
With enemies stalking her every move her desperation rises.
"Onward!" She cries out, raising her head confidently. Though inside unsure
of her precises chances of survival, she charges forward.

A canyon opens up before her, resolved she steps down firmly and plants her
heel on the tail of a sleeping rug. Panicked it struggles
to pull free; obscuring the rugged terrain beneath even further. As she lifts
her other foot to step, the rug lashes out, swallowing her heel,
and stealing the ground from beneath her her, she falls.

To be continued.

(I've had way too much fun with this already, and if I continue it may not end for a while)

Lessons in life

There was once a little frog named Gus. He was a good little frog, always paying attention to his surroundings, since his mother always told him to be careful of dangers in the pond. He had a friend named Lucifer, who was another little frog who would always get into trouble. Lucifer didn’t care about rules, he felt he knew everything and always called the other little frogs, “WOGS” !!! Because they always jumped into the pond when danger was near.

Once evening when all the frogs were out singing and croaking, a group of humans were in a shallow fishing boat paddling through the lilies with a frog gig. Gus and all the others were warned about bright lights at night from the elders but Lucifer didn’t listen. He felt like he was untouchable to the world's dangers and felt the odds anything bad would happen to him were very slim to none.

As the light came near to the lilys where the little frogs were singing, they all jumped into the water except for Lucifer. “Where did everyone go?”, “awww you guys are a bunch of “WOGS”. At that moment, Lucifer was by himself and wanted to impress the Frogs who were hiding under the water, away from harm. He croaked with all his might, as if he wanted to prove everyone wrong around him. Just before he inhaled another deep breath, his eyes brightened the pond like the morning sun.

The flashlight the humans had, met Lucifer's eyes, causing his location to be found because of the reflection. At that moment, Gus and the others watched in horror as the pitch fork was thrust forward and soaked into Lucifer’s chest, causing his limp body to rip through the lilly he was sitting on. They heard his bones crack as the barbed hooks met their target. As soon as the attack started, it was over. the frog gig was lifted out of the pond, accompanied by cheers of excitement from the humans. The Light from the boat had faded away as the shallow boat was quietly paddled along.

The little frogs slowly reached the surface of the water, being careful to avoid the bloody water that was slowly blending with the surrounding water. Gus swam home to tell his mother what had happened. “I told you little Gus, Listen to your elders and learn from our mistakes”.”It could save your life”

Frog Gigging Explained

Red Dawn Pt. II

They were here. The Russians had sterilized the base of any resistance within an hours time. They were emboldened by their accomplishment and now the deuterium core research facility was their reward. The only thing preventing a strategic Allied defeat was 18 inches of steel reinforced concrete. The Russians brought explosives.

“Well, if I die today, and at least, delay their advance, I’ll probably have a high school named after me.” Walt consoled himself as he tried to structure a plan of attack in his head. The exosuit was powered to beyond critical. Walt knew he’d need every last watt of electricity to even entertain the possibility of surviving. And with a loud crack, the Russians had broken through.

“‘Sup guys? I’m the official Spetznaz welcoming party.” Walt taunted over his suit’s loudspeaker. The Russians replied with a flurry of machine gun fire. Knowing the constraints of his armor, Walt knew he couldn’t play the role of bullet sponge for much longer. He ran towards the advancing line, snagging a forklift in each hand and made a gory scene, too macabre for even Poe to put into words. He meleed his way to ground level expecting better news. Instead of a small special forces operation--the type the lab had at least considered a contingency plan for--was a full on invasion force.

Walt knew if the Axis powers were able to secure the fusion cores and retrieve the Allied research, the war would be over. He couldn’t let that rest on his shoulders. He sprang towards the base fuel depot and left off a lightning bolt from his suit’s reactor. Walt had successfully announced his presence.

To be continued...

Delilah's Revelation

As a child, Delilah was taught that the Lord ruled all. God was infallible and to doubt his grace was to bring shame upon your family, yourself, and to suffer eternal damnation. Despite what she had been taught to believe, Delilah’s faith faded over time. She longed to feel His presence or to be graced with proof of His existence but, no matter how much she wished for this, it did not come to pass.

As she matured, Delilah had adopted the belief that God did not exist and that she was free to live life as she pleased, without fear of damnation’s hellfire. But Delilah was kind in heart. She did not require fear of punishment to enforce her actions. She treated all before her with compassion and endearment. When she confessed to her family that she no longer accepted their belief in any God, she was cast out from their home, forbidden from returning. Having been disowned and left out on her own, Delilah vowed never to allow another person’s beliefs to affect her opinion of them. She influenced others to do the same. “Let ye be judged by thine actions, not by the faiths you possess.” Words that rang true in the monastery of compassion and acceptance she built as a safe haven for those who were cast from their homes, just as she was. What started as a small gathering of lost souls seeking acceptance grew into an entire community of gentle people with different faiths, but a similar belief that an individual is to be judged by the quality of their character, not by the God unto which they kneel.

Delilah had lived a full life in the company of those she loved, those who loved her and viewed her almost like their own mother. Delilah looked out upon her people with love and respect for their bravery, living among others whose own countries have waged war upon each other for their religious dissimilarities. This in itself was her life’s achievement and her greatest contribution to the world she knew.

As an old woman, no longer able to stand, she spent her final moments in a bed facing the setting sun, enjoying its warmth upon her weary skin. She had constant visits from friends, loved ones, disciples and visitors from afar who came to express their appreciation for what she has given to them and their families, but those she wanted to see most did not come. The family that cast her out remained steadfast in their decision to remove her from their lives. Her life was full, but their absence created a void that would forever remain empty.

On the final night of her life, Delilah knew she was within moments of the end. She was prepared for it and was grateful for the opportunities to do everything she had done. To experience things others would never know. To bring happiness and peace to so many people whose lives had, up until that moment, been filled with torment and fear. Delilah looked through the open door and was met with a cool breeze gently blowing aside the cloth draped over the doorway. She felt a sudden warmth upon her hand and looked over to see a man standing over her. Despite the setting sun, an apparent glow seemed to fill the room bringing with it a peaceful warmth that surrounded and comforted her. She gazed into the eyes of the man and was filled with the overwhelming sense that she knew this man, possibly from when she was but a child. He spoke. “Delilah, you may not believe in any god, but your actions have not gone unnoticed. You have brought peace and happiness to so many who have, in turn, adopted your kindness and will carry on your gentle nature throughout their lives and the lives of others. Your days in this place will cease to be, but this is not the end for you. Rest, my dear, for soon you will be home.” Delilah’s eyes remained fixated on the man until she realized he was gone. Her weary eyes could remain open no longer and Delilah was able to enjoy what she had been instructed to do by the friendly visitor, rest.  Graced with the presence of what she felt she had been missing her entire life, Delilah was now at peace.

Assignment due 7/16: Epics and Fables

This week in class we read and discussed the narrative forms of epic poetry and fables.  


Your assignment for Monday (due before class starts) is to write a story, or a piece of a story, in the style of the epic or the fable.  Your story may be about any topic, deal with any theme, and take place in any era.  All I'm looking for is a demonstration of your understanding of some of the characteristics and conventions of the two genres we have been discussing.

For inspiration and information about epic poetry, re-read the passages from Beowulf and The Iliad that were included in the handouts I provided for you.  Also, refer to your notes regarding the characteristics of epic poetry and the heroes that populate it.

And to refresh your memory regarding fables, turn to pages 5-16 in your reader, where you'll find examples of fables as well as excellent analysis by the editor.

Have a great weekend, and have fun writing your epics and fables!