Entries By Laura Riddle
Displaying 1 To 30 Of 68 Entries
claims
Claims to what! He exclaimed to himself. Shuffling around the room in a mad dash, he tried to scoop up all the papers before they burned. Get out of there! His brain was screaming at him over the buzz of smoke filling his consciousness. But his body wouldn’t listen. He grasped the documents for dear life before he decided to run out and save his own.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 02.07.2013 @ 5:13 am
sweep
“Welcome back!” I said, sweeping him off his feet. Of course, he was a little shocked, being nearly a foot taller than myself. His long hair spun around and slowly a beam started to show on his face. His weight finally caught up with me, but soon he was the one hoisting me off the ground. “I missed you too.” He said.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 01.17.2013 @ 5:01 am
under
He looked under the cabinets but there was nothing there. Boss was watching him. Of course it wasn’t there, Alex thought. This was a ruse. The real key is… He studied hard the clay floor in front of him, delving deep into the senses in the back of his mind. He sprang to his feet, striding over to the pantry and reaching into a sack of flour. In just a few seconds, his hand emerged with a small key covered in flour. “Well done.” Boss said. There was almost a smile on his face even.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 11.28.2012 @ 5:00 am
draw
Alex drew on the piece of paper until all the lines conformed to a series of lines, patterns, a sketch that laid out the innards of the city streets. Like an architect, only the lines showed where the electricity was. The pulse, the heartbeat of the city. Alex handed it over and the boss took the paper and examined it. A cigar was smoldering between his lips as he contemplated the map. “Good,” He finally grunted.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 11.12.2012 @ 4:18 am
bury
The old man buried his face inside the wooly scarf that was bundled around his neck. Lapsing quietly into a slumber, he rested beneath the canopy of trees that provided shade for his front porch.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.16.2012 @ 7:24 am
upper
His thick upper lip was twisted from so many sinister smiles and his bushy eyebrows needed more than a waxing. Not that he would be the waxing type anyway, for he was far beyond masculine, and perhaps even a brute. Grime glossed over his unwashed skin and he didn’t seem to care. He was a hunter. That’s all that mattered.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.15.2012 @ 5:09 am
fresh
He shook the canteen above his lips, but produced nothing from its dry well. He continued to shake the vessel until he threw it to the ground, collapsing right next to it.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.11.2012 @ 8:47 am
dominant
“Don’t come any closer to me!” She screamed, holding up her hand to protect herself. The move made Lyle freeze. “What are you talking about?” He said in a barely audible whisper. “I would never hurt you. What’s wrong…?” The lady slumped down into a heap on the floor, sobbing her eyes out. “Don’t touch me…” Lyle crept in closer, slowly but softly placing an arm across her shoulders. “Please, Linda. Tell me what’s wrong.” Linda wiped her eyes on her sleeve and turned away. “It doesn’t matter.” She stuttered. “Just…forget…”
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.10.2012 @ 5:15 am
happy
[One sentence] I just wanted to be happy, I thought as I sat at the end of the bench watching him walk off and ending our long standing relationship with each other, leaving the world, our old world behind us along with all the memories and events that had transpired to make us the team, and couple in fact that we were meant to be, making it hard to believe that he would choose this decision, as if leaving just to prove he could keep me safe but instead felt like he was doing just the opposite.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.08.2012 @ 4:59 am
combine
I put both my fingers together, pinching the skin of the peach like a newborn. It had the texture and firmness of a marshmallow, not a softball or even a fuzzy baseball. Bringing the peach close to my nostrils, I whiffed in its closet boxed-in aroma. And the smell of rotting peach flesh. My nose crinkled and I tossed the peach into the garbage bin.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.03.2012 @ 5:08 am
signs
The signs were all around me. Frostbitten as my hands were, I pulled them under my armpits, clenching my teeth together and staring at each road sign in turn. I started walking down one of the paths. My footprints fell fresh into the powdered ground. My shins hadn’t reacted from the ice that surrounded them with every step, but my legs couldn’t feel anything else.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 10.02.2012 @ 7:31 am
help
There it was, the help desk. A gigantic circular center of places where help could be received. The receptionist with her nerdy glasses, typing some numbers into her computer like a meticulous accountant, yet her prim red lipstick saying otherwise. The help desk.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.27.2012 @ 8:48 am
affairs
The scene of the crime. Red, velvety satin sheets crumpled across the bed in haste. The pillows were strewn between the bed and the floor. I felt as hot, boiling inside as the smoldered candles had suggested, but I was a far cry from going cold. It was a disaster.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.26.2012 @ 4:56 am
afraid
“I’m afraid of the dark..” Her voice trembled, a heap of blankets shaking on top of her bed. “Why? Why are you afraid of the dark?” Her mother soothed her and gave a comforting smile. The little girl looked back up at her mother, eyes wide with anxiety. “Because cookie monster lives in the closet…”
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.24.2012 @ 4:47 am
despite
Despite what I knew about him, I could get past the point that he was going to college. He still wore the same Star Wars t-shirts that I’d seen him with in high school. Middle school really. His hat was torn in two places, and I couldn’t help wondering who would take care of him.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.19.2012 @ 5:10 am
alive
“I feel alive…” He said, looking down at his hands. His head snapped back up to look at her, and without thinking he reached over and began shaking her. “I’m alive!” “Yeah, I see…” Was all she could muster in a mumbled voice. “I know… I know…” But he just grinned. “Let’s celebrate!”
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.17.2012 @ 5:05 am
towers
Two towers stood sentient high above the clouds, reflecting the evening sun from their resplendent spires. Somewhere a magician called out “Come down from there!” as he gazed out from his own fortress window, his long white hair gleaming and captured by the breeze.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.12.2012 @ 5:09 am
binding
His arms were bound behind his back, but he struggled and used every ounce of his strength to escape. His muscles bulged but the rope gave no slack. He clenched his teeth. “You have no right to do this! I’ll stop you!” He yelled up to his captor. Yet his captor simply smiled. He then waved goodbye and disappeared out of the door, locking it behind him.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.11.2012 @ 7:12 am
spa
Ah, the spa. The best place to relax after a long day. I wish I could relax, and sink down into a bubble bath warm enough to melt all of the stress and tension from my muscles. But then again, the bill for such a place is pretty steep too.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.10.2012 @ 5:07 am
headphones
I put on my headphones and began working on my computer. Of course, the intern rushes in just that second, splashing coffee drops all over my morning paper. He huffs and puffs, combing back his gelled hair and basically doing everything a fresh out of college pup would do to impress a career guru. “Your coffee sir,” Charlie squeaks, placing the cup on the table. I don’t know why he talks like this. Now, I know he can TALK, but he insists that I want to hear a prepubescent chipmunk high on life everyday. “I added about two cremes, but do you want more creme? There’s a bunch more in the lounge. I can get you some more.” I glance down at my soggy newspaper, back at him and grin as best I can. To be honest, it wasn’t very much. Closer to a sneer than anything. “No thanks.” I said, picking up the coffee. “This is just great.”
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.08.2012 @ 7:36 pm
whether
“Whether or not you believe me is up to you,” He turned back to look at her. “You just have to trust me.” Her body was shivering and then she gulped. Reaching out her trembling hand she grabbed a hold of his. His hand, solid and assuring, clasped hers. They both took in and let out a deep breath, then stepped up and leaped off the cliff.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.06.2012 @ 8:59 am
sustain
He bowed down low before the king. “Your majesty…” “Sultan,” The other corrected. The man cleared his throat. “Yes, yes, of course. Oh…” Wait, the word is SUSTAIN…? At this moment the author jumps onto the page, frantically waving her hands in the air. Wait! Forget everything. I totally read that wrong…
Posted By Laura Riddle On 09.05.2012 @ 5:07 am
grind
The worker looked up. The saw blade was falling down fast, grinding its way through the framework as it fell. “Look out!!” The worker cried, dragging his counterpart out of the way. It was almost like a scene from a horror movie. The spinning saw blade fell from the sky, but instead of crashing, it sparked across the rocks, then ricocheted into the grass.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 06.08.2012 @ 6:10 am
jelly
The jar of jelly was just sitting there on the stove. My mother probably made it yesterday. Deep purple and mulberry black all tightly contained in that little jar. I licked my lips and couldn’t wait to taste it.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 06.07.2012 @ 6:01 am
treaty
“I’ll give you a treat-y!” Lorelei grinned, waving the dog biscuit in the air over Angie’s head. Angie wagged her tail rapidly, ears pricked high. The dog begged to leap off the ground for the treat. But there she sat. In close anticipation. Julius stepped outside. “What are you doing to my dog?” Lorelei rolled her eyes. “Making her fat. Look! She’s doing a trick for me. Sit!” And she waved her hand at the dog.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 06.05.2012 @ 6:22 pm
hassle
“No hassle! Buy! Buy one now!” That’s what I heard when the knife salesmen set up his wares on the table, brandishing his product like a serial killer on a soap box. “And you’ll never have to use another knife again!” I caught myself rolling eyes, then imagining I could saw off my own hand with an object that sharp. Ugh, morbid stuff. But it makes me wonder…
Posted By Laura Riddle On 06.01.2012 @ 8:02 am
reporter
The story had to be done. While Don was chewing out our current news-reporter on his behavior, I chewed my lip and picked up the camera. Then I ran out into the trees. Our subject was getting away.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 05.31.2012 @ 5:48 am
architecture
“Argh-cut-tat-chooore…?” She stumbled over the word, then glanced up at her oldest brother. “Yes, yes, made from architects. They build buildings. It’s their job to build things.” “But what does it have to do with…” The girl flabbered a bit on the suffix, before pointing at the word. Her brother rolled his eyes. “That’s the type of building that the architect makes.” “Well, why didn’t they just say building?” She whined.
Posted By Laura Riddle On 05.30.2012 @ 5:58 am
dilemma
Here we were in a dilemma. We had this dying animal in front of us. A fox on the sterile table of science and medical exceptions. Yet if we didn’t rescue this animal, he would die of malnourishment and definite mistreatment. I sighed, then gritting my teeth, scooped up the tiny animal in my arms. I shot a glance over at my partner. “Let’s go.”
Posted By Laura Riddle On 05.29.2012 @ 5:35 am
