A Novel Idea – Jainie Ruth

click on the picture for this week's linkup

It's been awhile. But, I'm excited to be answering more questions. Enter, Jainie Ruth Alexander.


Who is her father and what is he like?
Kyle Alexander is a Navy SEAL. He's been missing in action for quite some time. Loyal, strong, protective.


Who is her mother and what is she like?
Mia Jasmin was a beautiful young woman. She married Kyle and they had two children together, but she left them with her [abusive] brother not long after her husband went missing. 


Are her parents still married, or divorced?
Technically, they're still married.


Describe her siblings – if she has any.
Joshua Kyle Alexander. He's older than her by five years. She looks up to him, relies on him. She sees him as the strongest person she knows. She knows he's not perfect but through her eyes he is.

A Novel Idea – Writing

This week, Ashley has chosen questions about writing, rather than about characters and their background. Which is an idea I love, because I can read about how others like or tend to do things, and maybe I'll even learn a thing or two.

click to link up to this week's post!

What does your writing process look like? Do you sit down and plot your story before you start writing, or do you usually start writing before you plot?

Usually, my stories start as a scene. A picture in my head which may or may not come to life with voices, actions, etc. If they don't start with a picture, they start as an unusual idea, though still a scene. I'll either jot down the idea, write the scene, or store the picture/voice[s] in my head for later. For me, plotting is the hardest part of writing. Characters are always the "easiest." Characters come to me along with the scenes (usually the scene(s) are based off the character(s)... it's kind of a two-in-one deal), while I have to really work at plotting. I might have a slight idea of where I want to go (in fact, for a few things, I've known the end first), but all of how and why and when and etc. of getting there is the issue.

With shorter writings (short stories, fanfics, etc.), I've found that I begin writing the beginning and write straight through until I come to the part where I've got to stop for a moment and think about what's going to happen next or how it's going to happen. While I'm trying to decide that, the end starts writing itself in my head, so I write that and then go back and fill in the middle. That's how I wrote Myrna, Water, Fire, and the fanfic I'll be posting sometime in the next few days.

Do you have any strange writing habits? Such as only writing in one certain place, etc?

The format I'm using very much affects my writing. I find it's easiest to write straight into a blog post or in iPad Notes, while OpenOffice pretty much kills my writing cells (though I have gotten work done using it). Is that strange?

Also, I've found that my best writing is almost always what I've written in the middle of the night.


Do you usually write on paper or on the computer? (Or on a typewriter?)

Most often, I write on iPad Notes. A close second is directly into a Blogger post (whether or not it's something I plan on posting). I have written in a notebook (I almost always have one with me as well as my iPad), but I mostly write in it only when I can't use my iPad or laptop, or if I'm writing a poem. For some odd reason, I've written almost all of my poems in notebooks. Though everything else usually gets written best on screen, poetry seems to like being written in notebooks.

I've always thought a typewriter would be really awesome to use. Unfortunately, I've not yet had the pleasure. I'm looking forward to the day I own one.


What authors inspire you to write better? Is there an author you'd like to be like?

Edgar Allen Poe, Ally Condie, Anne-girl, Rachel, Markus Zusak, Ely, Westmoure, Olivia, Vicki, Michael J. Kirby, Suzanne Collins.

Those are just the first few I thought of. Some of them aren't technically authors, but all are writers, and that is what counts here.

I don't know that I really want to be like any of them. I am who I am, and I will write like I write. But I am influenced by them, and through that influence find my own style. Not that I would mind being [positively] compared to them.


What advice would you give to people who want to start writing?

Oh, yes, I'm such a cunning and experienced writer. Let me impart my great wisdom to you.

Uhh... nope. In fact, most of you reading this probably have more of that than I do. I've only gotten truly serious about writing these past several months. But since you asked, here's a few thoughts:

1) Be prepared. Don't get started thinking it's all having fun and eating chocolate and drinking coffee. Writing is blood and torture and tearing your heart out over and over again. And lots and lots and lots of work. 

2) On the other hand, it can be a lot of fun, and there is chocolate and coffee (or tea, if you prefer it). Make sure you are having plenty of that along the way or your writing will suffer. All work and no fun makes for dull books. 

3) Read and read and read, and write and write and write. And then read and write some more. You learn so much more than you realize by reading good and bad books. The good ones are best, but the bad ones can be just as valuable from time to time because they show you what not to do — they point things out you might not notice otherwise. Writing is like any other skill — the more you do it, the better you'll get.

Writing, like anything else, is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Or something like that. This means two things: First, that you have to work at it. But, second, you're not a terrible writer because you're not constantly inspired. That's normal. It's called writer's block, which you attempt learn to work through and with.

Thinking about writing? Read these.

Hmm... those were rather long answers, weren't thy?

Feel free to comment and give your own thoughts or opinions. Better yet, write your own post! And don't forget to follow the button and link up so we can read your answers.

       

Talk To Me #2: August

Hello, dearies!

Today is August first, which means the second edition of Talk To Me! I think you guys have the basic idea; but if not, click here for the intro. This month's subject is...

Colors

That's a very broad topic, I know — there's so many ways you can use it. I sort of did that on purpose (and you can probably expect similar subject in the future, though not always). I'm curious to see what you all do with this. Interpret it however you want, there are no "wrong answers." Just have fun with it, and don't forget to link up here so I can see what your character's written!

    

Name || Blog Title

A Novel Idea – Jesse Daniel

click above to view this week's linkup

Hello dearies! I've gotten behind with blogging – Kendra's blog party, Anna's contest. Mostly, that's because I've been writing (a short story-ish writing for Kendra's party, a FanFic for Anna). For the FanFic, I also decided I should rewatch some of the show, which has eaten into most of that time, as well as things like church and picnics. Of course, Goodreads, Facebook, Blogger, and Instagram aren't much help...

Anyhow, I'm taking a short break to do Ashley's new linkup. Then back to work.

The picture fits him in some ways, in other ways it's not him at all. It's just the best one I've found so far.

Where was he born? In a hospital, in their home, what city? I don't know. I haven't really thought about that, at all. I'm beginning to think they live in Michigan, though.

Where does he live now? See previous question.

Who are the people he is closest to? Family, friends? AnnDrew. They're best friends, after all.

Where does he go when he's angry and need to get away? His room or the skate park. Headphones in, music turned up loud, drowning out the world.

Chatterbox: Something Foreign, part 1

This month's Chatterbox is something foreign. In the words of Rachel: "How do your characters interact with those of another culture or nationality?"

Westmoure from Revelations and I worked together using his character, Seiryn, and my character, AnnDrew. This is the first part. You can find the link to part 2 at the bottom of this post.

Now, without any further nonsense, I present to you part one of Something Foreign:


Seiryn closed her eyes tightly as she jumped through the shrubbery. Branches snapped and raked her arms, but then her feet hit concrete and she was tumbling, scraping a knee, but still running. Behind her, the bushes ignited and rushed into smoke and burning stumps. Then, from her left, a knife looped through the air, slicing right past her face. Seiryn slammed a fist to the ground, sending shockwaves rippling out, hoping it would stun her pursuers. She heard the click of Agramnon's handgun, and turning, she pushed open a door and stumbled through, not seeing, and pushing an auburn-headed woman to the ground with a shoulder to the face.

~~~~~~~

AnnDrew walked through the door, wondering what kind of restaurant this was. She'd never been to Egypt before, or any sort of Egyptian restaurant, so she wasn't sure what to expect.

She barely made it inside before she was knocked to the ground by a whirlwind from behind. The intruder grabbed her and pulled her against the wall, where they couldn't be seen from outside. The woman clamped her hand hard over AnnDrew's mouth and hissed in her ear to keep quiet. She watched out the window as three men in red cloaks ran past. It was only after they were out of sight that she released her hold on the girl. AnnDrew gasped for lack of air and turned to face her, wide-eyed.

"Who are you?"

The woman glared. "Shh. Agramnon could still hear you." After a moment, she looked down. "Call me Seiryn. But do it quietly."

AnnDrew laughed softly. "Okay, Seiryn," she whispered. "I'm AnnDrew. Who's Agramnon?"

"A murderer and a mastermind, but don't think about him too much, or he might sense you."

"Sense me? What do you mean?"

"He is present in the thoughts of those who think of him."

"Um, okay..." AnnDrew looked around for a moment. By now, anyone in the restaurant had gone back to whatever they were doing before the excitement. She stepped to the table nearest them and sat down. "Let's sit. Why are you running from those guys, anyway?"

Seiryn eased into a chair. "Well, most likely, they would kill me, if they could catch up."

"Kill you? Why?"

"I stand in their way. Why else would they hunt me? But this is not a place for such dark matters."

"Okay, then. So, are you from around here?"

"Egypt? No. No, I live quite a ways from this place. Uttsaria is my home."

"Where's that? I've never heard of Uttsaria before."

"It's the second largest city in Atlantea."

"You mean, Uttsaria is some part of Atlanta, Georgia, or something?"

Seiryn looked at her blankly. "Georgia?"

"Yeah, in the US. You know, one of the 50 states."

"No... Do they serve beef here? I've been eating salted fish for weeks."

"I have no idea. I was wondering what they serve, myself. I'm from the United States, this is my first time in Egypt."

"What do they eat, in that country?"

"Burgers, pork, steak. We eat fish, too. Pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Rice and pasta and potatoes. Soda, tea, and coffee. Watermelon in the summer, all kinds of fruits, really. I guess you can find just about anything if you know where to look."

"Ever had squid or octopus? How about Char? Or archerfish?"

"No. I've never even heard of Char or archerfish. What is Char? Is that a fish, too?"

"Yes, fish are the only native creatures in Atlantis. Everything else is imported from Phoenicia, mainly."

"Wait, did you just say Atlantis?!"

click here for part 2 of Something Foreign

A Novel Idea – Anna Drew

Hello, dearies! I've happened across a brand new (weekly!) linkup, hosted by Ashley from Ashley Aspires.

Click on the picture to the right to view this week's linkup!

What's her name? Anna Drew Stevens

Is she named after someone? Not that I'm aware of.

Does she have a nickname? AnnDrew

How old is she? 15

Hairstyle? Straight, curly, short, long, etc. She has very bright, rich red hair. It's messy-straight. The style is something very much like the picture above, though shorter. I'd say it's about shoulder-length — just touching her shoulders or a bit longer.

Eyes? Color, size, etc. Take the makeup away, and these are her eyes exactly. In fact, this is a much more accurate picture than the first one, though it's only of part of her face. Right down to the freckles, it's perfect.

Beautiful People: Jess

1) What's his favorite food? Spaghetti

2) What does he absolutely hate? Hypocrites

3) What does he enjoy learning about? Anything. He reads a lot and loves to learn.

4) Who is the most influential person in his life? His youth pastor.

5) What is his childhood fear? He was afraid a tree would be struck by lightning, fall on the house, and crush someone.

6) What is something he has always secretly dreamed of but thought impossible? Winning gold at the Winter Olympics for snowboarding and at the Summer Olympics for skateboarding.

7) What is something he is impractically afraid of? Losing his best friend.

8) Is he a night owl or a morning person? Night owl, definitely.

9) Does he say everything that pops into his head or leave a lot unsaid? He doesn't usually say everything that pops into his head, but he doesn't necessarily leave things unsaid, either.

10) What are his nervous habits? Stretching, hands in pockets, moving.

Character Encounters Linkup: Graffiti

I find Jess in what we call our backyard, spray-painting graffiti on the side of the concrete wall. He doesn't hear me approach, and I stand there, watching him. I see he's an amazing graffiti artist — something I didn't know before now.

I shift my position and a stick cracks beneath my foot, alerting Jess of my presence.

our actual backyard
thank you to my sister, Rissa

"How long have you been standing there?" His voice is a mix of anger, confusion, pride, and vulnerability. But most people wouldn't see that behind the walls he's built up.

"Maybe five minutes," I answer truthfully. His steely gray eyes are on mine, harsh and unforgiving if I didn't know better. "That's really good."

He considers his work before facing me again. "What is?" he asks.

"All of it." I wave my hand towards the length of the wall. "I never knew you could paint like that."

"I'll get it cleaned up," he says, bending down and gathering his supplies into his duffle bag.

"Why? It's beautiful."

He looks up from what he's doing, confusion painted across his face. "You don't want it gone?"

she even staged it for me
she read this before taking the photos

"Of course not! Why would I want it gone? I love it."

"I just thought..." He pauses for a moment before saying, "I didn't think anyone was home."

"It's just me. Everyone else is out." I study the wall for a minute. "Are you going to finish it?"

"Nah," he dismisses me with a wave of his hand. "I'm done." He sets the last spray can into his bag and slings it over his shoulder as he stands. "I think AnnDrew's waiting for me."

He studies my face for a moment before walking past me. He's gone several yards before I stop him.

"Jess." He turns just enough to face me. "Come back and finish it sometime? Or paint more."

"Maybe," he answers as he walks away. I follow behind him until I reach the door, then watch as he walks down our driveway. He turns onto the road and out of view. I walk the rest of the way to the door and step inside before remembering I had been on my way to my friend's. I walk back outside and down the alley towards her house, wondering where Jess had gone.

Talk To Me: An Original Linkup

Hello, Dearies! (yes, it seems I'll be using the OUAT reference greeting; excuse me if you must)

Thanks to Carly over at Books and Etc., I'm creating a new linkup, called Talk To Me! Something like Beautiful People, Snippets of Story, and Chatterbox.

Like said linkups, this will be monthly. On the first day of each month, I'll create a post with a new linkup, which will be open until midnight of the last night of that month (e.g. this month's is open until August 1st at 12:00am).

So what exactly is this "Talk To Me" linkup I'm talking about? Well, I'm glad you asked. You simply let one of your characters post to your blog. (Perhaps even create their own blogger profile and make them a blog author like I have; but that's optional.) The point is to get to know your characters better by seeing what they have to say. Here's an example of a Talk To Me post. (That's the post that inspired the linkup.)

Also like Chatterbox, I'll be giving you a category each month. Since I've already written mine for July (though I hadn't yet gotten the idea of a linkup at that time), I'll stick with a category it fits into.

And so, without further ado, this month's category is...

Confessions/Flaws

To participate, simply create your post and then add your link below. (Please be sure to link to your post, not your entire blog.) Preferably, your entry title will look like this: Name @ Blog Title (e.g. mine is: Jessy @ Barefoot in the Snow).

Thank you and enjoy!

         

Beautiful People Linkup II

After I wrote "Myrna", I decided to do Beautiful People's June linkup for Jainie.

I know, I know, I already did this month's. But where is it said that I can't do it twice?

So, here's June's "Beautiful People" for Jainie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1) What is her full name and is there a story behind why she got it?

Jainie Ruth Alexander

Jainie: I made this name up. No reason other than she whispered the sounds of her name to me, and when I came up with "Jainie", she told me that was her name.

     (meanings based on the name "Jane")

     Origin: Hebrew

     Meaning: God is gracious

          • already explained

          • we made it up together

Ruth because it sounded good as a middle name with "Jainie."

     Origin: Hebrew | English

     Meaning: friend | compassion

          • as I said, it sounded good with "Jainie"

          • I also liked the meaning, which goes with her personality

Alexander, being her father's surname, became her own

     Origin: Greek

     Meaning: defending man

          • I think I said something about this here

2) How old is she, and when was she born?

That depends on what part of the story you're in. She's either almost 11 or dead.

She was born on 24 August 2001.

3) Describe her physical appearance.

Long brown hair. Light/dark brown eyes (they're darker than medium brown, but they have a certain light to them which makes them seem lighter-colored). Shapely face, naturally shaped eyebrows. Slender nose; graceful, nicely reddish-colored lips. An almost invisible dusting of several freckles. Tall and slender yet petite; seemingly delicate but insanely tough.

        Bonus Questions:

          1. What is her race/nationality/ethnicity?

                    She's Alex's sister, so I'm not sure yet except that she's American.

          2. Do you have a picture of her? If so, include it!

                    

                                         

4) Describe your character's personality first in one word, and then elaborate with a few sentences.

Giving. She's extremely generous and tends to think of others first. She wants to help however she can.

5) What theme song(s) fit her personality and story arc?

I'd never given this any thought but as soon as I read the question, "Who You'd Be Today" by Kenny Chesney popped in my head.

After listening to it, that's definitely Alex's theme song. I'm still not sure what Jainie's song would be.

6) Which one of the seven deadly sins (gluttony, greed, lust, envy, slothfulness, wrath, pride) describes your character?

Jainie isn't a lazy person, but she does struggle with a certain amount of slothfulness.

7) If she was an element (fire, water, earth, air), which one would she be?

Water. She's flexible. (That's not all but the words aren't coming for me.)

8) What is her favorite word?

Brother. He was her stability growing up, the one she looked to, the one who care for her and told her stories of their father. If there was a god in her life, it was her brother. Not in an idolatrous way, but more in that he was the god-figure. She knew nothing of God and so Alex was the one who filled that gap. (Is this sounding the way I'm wanting it to?) 

I guess what I'm saying is that the word "brother" stands for everything good in her life. Every good memory, every good thought, anything that was good always included her brother. And so, of course, when she thinks "good," she thinks "brother" and visa versa.

"Brother" is synonymous with "home."

9) Who is one person she really misses? (It could be someone who's passed away, or someone she's not close to anymore, or someone who's moved away.)

Jake Tanner. He still lives next door, but things have changed since she was small. Jake is in the same grade as Alex, and since there's a 5-year age difference between him and Jainie, it makes it very difficult to spend any time with him. Especially when you've got Uncle Ken expecting you to be back as soon as school is over; cook, clean, do your homework, do whatever Ken wants. She still gets time with her brother, and Alex still hangs out with Jake, but the three of them are never able to do anything together anymore, especially not Jainie.

10) What sights, sounds, and smells remind them of that person?

Small bodies of water; anything that's linked to something they've done or somewhere they've been together. I don't really know specifically, because the only memory I've discovered is the one in "Myrna".

Chatterbox: Myrna

I walk along the dirt road, trudging back to a place I'm expected to call home. We got out of school early today, so I have enough time to take the long way. I glance quickly around me to make sure no one important is watching. Uncle doesn't want me to take the long way; he wants me home as soon as I can get there. He wouldn't let me go to school if it wasn't required that he does.

No one is there. I veer off my usual path and follow the narrow trail into the nearby forest. The trees are tall and strong, like my brother. I wish I could be that way. I tend to slip through the pieces and cracks that web the small semblance of the life I call mine.

The path turns and zigzags softly through the forest. I love the way it seems so whimsical, carefree. It goes where it pleases without a care in the world, yet it's thoughtful of the trees and the rocks and the other creations sharing its earth; it doesn't push them around or attempt to crush them, but winds its way around so as not to disturb their existence.

I walk slowly, with my eyes on the trees, studying them for their signs of life. A squirrel jumping from branch to branch; a bird in its nest, feeding its young; an inchworm crawling its way up the tree. I smile to myself and look down at my feet, glad for the animals and pondering their joyfulness.

The moment past, I look beside me. There's a lake; a pond, really, and a small one. But it's enough.

A picture. He's smiling at me, surely thinking me silly for my youthful questions, but loving me just the same.

A thought. She really was lovely.

A memory. A new one I've not remembered before.

"There she is," Jake says as we approach the lake. "She's lovely, isn't she?"

"Who is?" I ask. There's no one here but us three. 

My brother answers for him. "He means the boat, Jainie." 

I look to the lake and see a small boat tied to the wooden floor that's standing over the water. How did they get that floor to stay there, why doesn't it sink?

"Oh. Then why'd he call it a 'she'?" Boats aren't girls or boys, just boats. My child's mind doesn't understand. 

"Because she's a she," Jake says, giving me his impish grin. 

I'm not sure how to respond, so I ask another question instead. 

"Do we get to ride in her?" I figure if Jake says the boat's a she, then he can't be wrong, even if he isn't right. So I'll call the boat a she. 

"Of course we do!" Jake's voice holds a note of excitement I can feel, and I'm suddenly more energized than he. 

I begin to skip between my brother and Jake, my hands in theirs. "Who's going to drive it?" 

"Your brother and I will. You can help us if you want." 

I feel my heart skip in anticipation. "I can?"

"Sure! In fact, we're going to need someone who can make sure we don't get too close to the edge of the lake. If that happens, the boat might get stuck. Sometimes we'll get distracted and forget to watch where we're going, so you can make sure that doesn't happen by telling us if we're getting too close. Do you think you can do that for us?" 

"Yes!" My young heart is thrilled to be needed by the bigger kids, especially when they help me with so many things I can't seem to do without them. 

I have another thought. "But if she's a girl, what's her name? Every girl has a name." 

Alex laughs his strong, happy, affectionate laugh. It's made my day that I've made him smile. He does that so rarely, and I love it when he does. That laugh is my favorite thing in the world. 

"I don't believe she's got a name yet." Jake thinks for a moment. "How about Myrna. What do you think, Jainie?" 

I look at the boat for a minute before answering. "She says she likes that name. And I think it's the prettiest name ever." 

Jake smiles again with a curious face and Alex looks at me, his eyes still dancing with the laughter. 

"Myrna it is, then!" I give them my childish grin, the brightest smile I have. 

Soon we're all in the boat, they rowing and I dutifully watching the shoreline.

That was when we were happier; back before Mom left us, before Uncle started doing such horrid things to us. I remember it so vividly, though it's a memory I'd never reviewed before; one hidden so deep in the archives of my life I never had time to come to it yet, though so easily pulled out by a single glance at this small body of water. I can almost see Myrna out on this pond, the three of us singing our hearts out and rocking the boat, living in the moment, as if those two things were our only purpose and we were as glad of it as we could be.

The next time we went to the lake, Myrna had her name written wonderfully down each of her sides. Jake told me later my brother had painted it there. He never said anything that first day I saw it, my brother, but I could see the humble pride behind his eyes as I expressed my innocent pleasure in his beautiful gift.

I realize I've stopped walking. I'm still standing here, watching the lake, thinking of my brother and his friend. Our friend. I'm going to be late now, and that I can't afford. He'll hurt my brother if I'm late and he'll punish me again when he's done.

I tear myself from the lake, my reminiscence, and reluctantly follow the trail as quickly as I'm able to force myself, back to the place I'm expected to call home.

view Rachel Heffington's "Chatterbox"

Beautiful People Linkup

I've known of Beautiful People for quite some time, but I've recently discovered they've just started a monthly linkup! This is the first one. And I've decided, why not? Sounds like fun.   *I get to be one of the fi-irst, I get to be one of the fi-irst...*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1) What is his full name and is there a story behind why he got it?

Joshua Kyle Alexander (Alex Kyle)
Joshua, simply because I love that name.      Origin: Hebrew      Meaning: God rescues           • pretty self-explanatory
Kyle because that is his father's name.      Origin: Gaelic, English      Meaning: straights of water           • refreshing

Alexander because he was born to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, obviously.      Origin: Greek      Meaning: defending men           • do I need a reason for liking this meaning?           • (really, I just liked the name... the meaning just happened to be good, too)
He calls himself Alex Kyle after he runs away from home so that it's less likely he'll be found by his uncle. Before that, he was usually called Josh.
I like the name Alex too much for him, though, so I'm thinking that maybe it was a pet name his younger sister, Jainie, called him...
Can you tell I like names?

2) How old is he, and when was he born? He is 15 years old. His birthday is 3 April 1997.

3) Describe his physical appearance. The picture below. Except that he has super-dark blue eyes, and his hair is maybe a little lighter (not much, but a little).
        Bonus questions:           1. What is his race/nationality/ethnicity?                     Hmm... haven't really thought about that much. I do know he's American.
          2. Do you have a picture of him? If so, include it!                                              












4) Describe your character's personality first in one word, and then elaborate with a few sentences. Closed. He doesn't talk much, doesn't give much away (not even to me). He can be a great friend, he's very loyal and loves deeply, but it doesn't necessarily appear that way until you get to know him. He seems very stand-offish and shy.

5) What theme song(s) fit his personality and story arc? I'm not sure.

6) Which one of the seven deadly sins (gluttony, greed, lust, envy, slothfulness, wrath, pride) describes your character? I don't know. Maybe this sounds a bit cruel, but I need to reveal more of his flaws. He's too perfect. Of course, it'd help if I knew what they were... But he's so...closed...he won't tell me what they are. He doesn't trust me yet.

7) If he were an element (fire, water, earth, air), which one would he be? Earth. He would be earth. Strong, steady, yet unpredictable; and mysterious in the way that you never really know what's hidden beneath the surface until it's been revealed.
8) What is his favorite word? Family. I believe it's family.

9) Who's one person they really miss? (It could be someone who's passed away, or someone they're not close to anymore, or someone who's moved away.) His sister, Jainie, who died at age eleven. His father, Kyle, who is a MIA Navy SEAL.

10) What sights, sounds, and smells remind them of that person? He pretty much blocks those memories out, except for sometimes at night before he falls asleep. Then he can hear the pummeling and her cries and silence in the quiet and darkness.
He doesn't remember too much about his father. He went missing in action sometime before Josh was seven, and before that he was gone a lot (in the military).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's that: my very first linkup (ever) and the very first Beautiful People linkup.
Please criticize (constructively)! Any opinion or advice is gratefully welcomed and greatly appreciated.