Friday, October 5, 2007

Do You Want to Hear a Story?

For the month of September through the first week of October, Mom's been part of an event called Short Story Writing Month. She was only able to write one short story during that time because for most of September, she was rough-drafting a new novel.

But here's what I'm getting to: Mom's short story is about me! Isn't that great? It's called "Twice-Blessed" and is a speculative tale about what I might have gone through before showing up on Mom and Dad's back porch as a stray cat last year. In the story, I'm called "Lulabelle" or "Lula" before my name becomes Marilyn MonREOW.



Here's an excerpt:

On her way to the couch, Lulabelle’s longtime friend wobbled. “I’m dizzy,” she said, her voice breathless. “I need to lie down for a while. I’m glad I’m going to the doctor next week.”

Lula twitched her whiskers as Mabel lay down on the couch, covered herself with a quilt, and went quickly to sleep. Mabel had been getting dizzy more and more often, and she’d been especially dizzy today. Beside herself with worry, Lula jumped onto the couch, curled herself up on Mabel’s chest – it felt so frighteningly frail – then she tucked her head under Mabel’s chin and purred, hoping her purrs would help Mabel feel better.

Mabel shifted slightly in her sleep and put her thin arms around Lula. Lula loved it when she did this. Lula and Mabel had been together a long time, over ten years. Mabel called herself an old lady, though Lula didn’t know what an old lady was. Mabel was all Lula had ever known – well, Mabel and her friends. Florence and Angela called themselves old ladies, too. And if all old ladies were like Mabel, Florence, and Angela, then Lula loved old ladies. They had warm hearts and gentle hands.

But Mabel had a nephew, too – his name was Fred – and whatever nephews were, if they were all like Fred, then Lula didn’t like them one bit. Whenever Fred came over, he treated Lula as if she were a pest, and he tried to convince Mabel to move away into a “nursing home”, whatever that was. Lula did know that Mabel didn’t want to go to one, and Mabel had also told Lula that the biggest reason she didn’t want to go to a nursing home was because she wouldn’t be able to bring Lula with her.

What a terrible thought. Lula couldn’t imagine life without Mabel. And she didn’t want to.

If you'd like to read the rest, go here: Twice-Blessed.

Next, Mom's going to write a speculative tale about MaoMao's journey to our house and post it to her short story blog. Mao is very excited!

Darling Mickeybear, my wonderful, warm, Whitester mancat, I so enjoyed snuggling on your wall with you!

16 comments:

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

That is very warm story excerpt, I read very slow but enjoy every detail. I am going to read the rest, it will be very good~!!

Have a great weekend~!!!

Karen Jo said...

I really liked the excerpt. I will definitely read the whole thing. I hope you or Mao will let us know when his story is posted.

Karen Jo said...

I read the whole story now and it's wonderful. I hope all your visitors go read it.

Gretchen said...

I think you make a perfect Miss Lulabell. I loved your mom's story. She's a great writer and I was quite moved by it. I could see you in my mind trying so hard to adjust. You have a good mom and dad, brother and sisters. The story about you was written so tenderly.

Giant sister-cuz-friend hugs...G

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

dearest sister i just read you story while i wassitting on mommoies arm! can u tell i am a big help here helping her type a message to you? we can not wait to read the rest of the story....i know it will be sad brfore it has a happy ending up on the yamaha:)
i am feeling much better but still love being in my frying pan.
love peach

Ramses said...

Oh what a lovely story, you're Mom's very talented! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Marilyn,

This excerpt was so sweet.My mom's eyes got leaky..Seesh Humans.Your mom's a great writer...Love, Huggs and Purrs Ariel

The Furry Kids said...

Momma read the excerpt to us and it was so good. Momma got leaky eyes. We're gonna go read the rest!

Have a good Friday, my sweet, whitester buddy!

Titus

Daisy said...

I read part of it and I am very worried about what will happen to Lula now with Mabel gone. I will have to go back and finish the rest.

Unknown said...

Your Mum is very, very talented! I didn't know she was a writer! My Mum says we will go and read the rest tonight, I can't wait.

Fat Eric said...

Your mum is furry furry talented, we loved that story!

zevo hussein calamari said...

Wow.. that is a wonderful story. We love d it. Congrats!

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

OOoo, mom read dis little excerpt to us and now we wants her to go and read da rest to us! We din't know yoor mom was a writer...mom fur some reason thawt she was a teacher. Dis is gonna be a good night, chick-hen and a story...

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

We liked that excerpt and now we're going to read the rest of your story.

mister jeter harris, hizself said...

Marilyn,
Your mom wrote a beautiful story about you. I was filled with emotion as I read it with my mom ... sadness, fear, anger ... and finally joy when you came to live with your mom and dad.
Thank goodness for Moonlight! If he hadn't been so kind to you ... you might not be here and what would I do without you?!
Your--Mick

Around Your Wrist said...

hello my lovely sister! i love the story excerpt...and will ask mom to head on over there to read it next!

it's good to back...i've missed you so much!