Friday, March 22, 2013

SciFiFanSat Post - Myth-In-Law




Hi!  Welcome to another snippet contribution for Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday!  I’ve been having a great time posting from one of my current WIP’s, Myth-In-Law.  I figured I’d give Sam the week off and check in on his grandpa – Professor Livingston.  The last time we saw him, he was hunting a cauchemar (dead witch) in the bayous of Louisiana before remembering Sam’s pending birthday.  I hope you enjoy this week’s installment and if you’re so inclined please take a look back at some of the past snippets from Myth-In-Law.  Make sure you check out all the talented authors and other great writing going on over at scififansat.blogspot.com.  As always, comments are greatly appreciated and truly do help keep the creative fires burning.  Enjoy!

          TJ’s Truck Stop – 15 miles south of Tuscaloosa Alabama
          “Where in the blazes is that boy?”  Professor Livingwood slammed the handset against the side of the payphone. 
          The soft thump of the gas pump releasing from its locking mechanism caught his attention and he removed the nozzle from his RV’s gas tank and replaced the handle.  Wiping a dirt laden hand over his bloodshot eyes, the Professor entered the convenience mart and eyed the thinly built cashier behind the counter.  The boy, no more than eighteen, wore a faded flannel shirt and a flat brimmed ball cap pulled low on his eyes.
          The professor pulled a couple bottles of water from a cooler near the counter and relished in the cold breeze before sliding a handful of twenties across the counter.
          “Any idea how far it is until the next gas station with a working phone?”
          The young cashier looked up and said, “Ever hear of something called a cell phone?”
          “I found they don’t mix well with swamp water.”

20 comments:

  1. Lol. I love the last line. The professor seems like a really cool guy.

    And you brought that gas station to life in very few sentences. Great snippet.

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    1. Thanks! Sam's Grandfather plays a big role in the story, so I'm glad he's coming across well, especially since the main character, Sam, is a teenager.

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  2. Ha! that made me laugh. For those of us in that older generation, we still LIKE payphones and other dinosaurs of that kind. Nice!

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    1. Glad it gave you a chuckle. The Professor isn't opposed to technology but he's stuck in between what he's used to and keeping up with the times. Thanks for the comments.

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  3. Wait, why does he put several twenties on the counter? Hyper-inflation? Or just generosity?

    I love this introduction to Professor Livingwood. And I love that name: Livingwood... it has such meaning.

    Nice snippet!

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    1. Thanks! He was paying for the gas too. I actually had to cut out a couple lines of dialogue to make it snippet acceptable that would have made that more obvious. Glad you like the name - I spent some time on it and it really does carry a lot of meaning as the story progresses.

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  4. I was also thinking about the reason behind the handful of twenties at first, figuring maybe the professor had no concept of the value of money. Then, I remembered that he filled up his RV's gas tank. Those fuel tanks are huge!

    I got the image of one of those small-town gas stations you find in the Deep South while reading this snippet. Nicely done!

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    1. Thanks, Patrick! The Prof's old RV is a gas guzzler but it has a lot of sentimental value. Glad the image of the station worked for you. I've visited my share of them.

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  5. If he filled the tank on his RV, it had better be a LOT of twenties. I rack up fifty just filling the tank on my compact! And is he speaking from sad experience about the cell phone and the swamp water?

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    1. Ha! Isn't that the truth about gas. The first couple of snippets I contributed for Myth-In-Law focused on Professor Livingwood in the bayous of Louisiana on a witch hunt, though I suppose that was a few months back. Hence the wet phone. I felt it was a little more dramatic than dropping it in the toilet.

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  6. In your intro you calling the grandpa Livingston, but in the snippet he's Livingwood. I prefer Livingwood. :) His attitude comes through very clearly in this snippet. I like his take on the convenience of tech. I also like the setting!

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  7. Thanks, J.M. Definitely an oversight in the into. Sam and his grandpa's name carry a lot into their shared heritage. But thanks for keeping me on my toes - someone needs to. Glad you enjoyed it!

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  8. Yeah, I could see how swamp water and a cell phone might not mix...

    Great descriptions here. I pictured a dusty old gas station smelling of oil and grease pried from my childhood memories.

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    1. I think most of us can draw on similar memories of those small stores and I like that everyone had their own small twists to the setting. That means I'm in the right mix of details to me. Thanks for the comments, Ann!

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  9. Like everyone else, you got me at the description/setting. Very vivid, and I could also just 'smell' it. Loved that last line!

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    1. Thanks, T.K.! I always find it interesting what a little trimming can accomplish and come through with an even stronger image than before. Glad you liked it!

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  10. Damn, that's one tough professor. I love the sniping and the interaction. And I love the way those descriptive sentences are so direct. Amazing. Keep it coming.

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  11. Thanks! I'm glad it works for you. The Prof is shaping into a really fun character to write and his adventures are a nice offset from Sam's.

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  12. Hahahaha. Nice snippet! Great description! I envisioned myself there!

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  13. Appreciate the comments and I'm glad it's working for you!

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