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 Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:57 pm
Todd Wells
I laid on my bed with my feet dangling off the end and my eyes half closed to the ceiling. It didn't take long before I began to doze off and my head leaned over to one side after a while. My cell phone that was on the bed next to me rang suddenly and jerked me awake in alert. I grumbled softly and rubbed my forehead. The shock of my phone ringing gave me an instant headache and I stared down at it. My dad was calling me like he did often when I was away. I hestiantly answered. "Hello?" I said into the phone. "Hey Todd, have you arrived at the house yet?" I responded. "Um, yes I'm here dad. Its a nice pl..." My dad interrupted me as he did often. "I told you to call me first thing when you got there." He said with irritation in his tone. I paused thinking he was in one of those moods again. "....Sorry dad, I honestly forgot." My dad changed the subject. "And did you give Mr. Blake the gift?" I was fiddling with my zipper when he asked the question. "Yeah I sure did" I lied. The conversation went on for a bit longer with him repeating himself as always and talking about how I need to act. I sighed deeply after we said good bye and hung up. I couldn't say I missed talking to him. I did miss talking to mom though. I fumbled around in my suitcase for the neatly rapped gift my parents got for him as a thank you. The money they probably already gave him for his services but this was just alittle something special I figured. I felt incredibly awkward and full of anxiety as I left the comfort of my room in search of his. I felt sick to my stomach and leaned on the wall outside of my door thinking if I should wait or not.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:32 pm
[[Im truly sorry for my delay, the keyboard was damaged. But we've replaced it biggrin ]]
Lauren Blake
The sun was due to set in little over half an hour. The dusk smelled like fresh stars and moon bursts as I inhaled the night. Coming in from the shed, i had two glass jars in my hand, the new homes for my midnight friends. The heels of my shoes, made that clickiing echo sound that they often do when i'm in a hurry. I stopped at the top of the stairs, where Todd, at his door, stood. "Awaiting me?" I asked. The answer was beyond me, he could've been on his way to any task. He hadn't left his room since he arrived three hours ago. If his room had not had its own bathroom I would have wondered how strong his bladder was. Hmm, come to think of it he hadn't had his dinner yet either. Did I make such a terrible host?
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:15 pm
((Its all good smile ))
Todd Wells
I closed my eyes knocking the back of my head lightly on my door as I begged myself to make a decision but then I heard someone walking up the stairs. I lowered my eyes looking down at the gift in my hands when I heard his voice address me. "...No its ok, I-I thought you were in your room.... I just remembered something I needed to give you." I peered at the jars in his hands blankly then looked up into his eyes. I felt so bad again just like earlier and my eyes faultered. Your too sensitive, grow up I thought to myself. All the things my dad said to me on the phone really got to me and also what I said to Lauren. My hands began to quiver because I was terrified that I might break down in front of this man. I tried to change the subject. "What are the jars for?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:20 pm
Is the gift supposed to be something specific?
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:30 pm
Lauren Blake
I looked down at the contents in my arms and remembered. "Oh these, these are for my night hobby." Strangely enough I felt the urge to blush. Fighting it back I cleared my throat, "There are fireflies on the outskirts of the forest." I walked ahead a few steps and turned to see that he had not moved. "Come on, I don't hold three-headed dog monsters in my room." I laughed. "You could help me carry third jar."
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:31 pm
( honestly I've been trying to think of whats in the gift, I just used it as an excuse to get him out of his room but i still haven't thought of anything. If you have an idea that would help lots. sorry lol)
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:59 pm
Todd Wells
I felt some of the tension in the air disperse to my relief as I listened with interest. I heard of fireflies but never actually seen one before. Things like that you just don't see in the big city. I also found myself feeling intrigued at the hint of embaraessment in his expression. Maybe I was wrong but I still couldn't hold back as I smiled comically. I was very hesitant to move but when he spoke again to me my face seemed to light up a little. "Are you sure? I would hope not." I pushed off of my door and walked over to his room. I didn't step in though but merely peeked around. "Yes, I will." I said quietly pertaining to the third jar.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:45 pm
Lauren Blake
I took the wrapped box from him once my hands were free. I don't recall paying it much attention as I laid it on the dresser on the far wall. There also was the third jar, the little bugs sprang to the top when I picked it up as if greeting me. "Here it is." I spoke, heading back to the young man in my doorway. I'm not sure i had quite convinced him that my bedroom was truly a safe zone. I handed the jar to him, the little critters flew around the side to get a good few at the stranger. "They make the best pets if you ask me." I said. Picking up my empty jars I heading out again.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:53 pm
Todd Wells
My eyes grew a bit wide as he handed me the third jar and I brought it up to eye level watching the little glowing insects peculiarly. "Yeah." I agreed. "I'm sure they are beautiful when its dark." I added without looking away from them. My eyes grew soft as I daydreamed about what it might be like to see a million or so of them all at once flying around in the night. I finally looked up realizing that he had already left his room. My face was a bit flushed with embaraessment when I caught up to him with the jar. "Where are we going?" I asked.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:13 pm
[[Tell me if you come up with any ideas about the gift]]
Lauren Blake
I spoke as I descended the stairs. "We're going to go release the fireflies and catch new ones." The truth was, it was a deeply long story. Short-version. The fireflies are all I have now. They caught my eye on my first night here and allowed me to catch them. Once a year they do a spectacular light show. I've been depressed and had my battles with insomnia, but the little creatures seem to help when I have them in my room. It's like they flutter all night so that I can sleep. I suppose it sounded more magical than counting sheep.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:22 pm
(ok i will, i have a few ideas swimming around but still unsure)
Todd Wells
I raised my eyebrow in confusion. It took me a second to figure out that he was actually being serious and not joking about this. I replyed after a short pause "In all honesty sir I don't think i will be very good at catching fireflies..." I said shyly. My voice even came out as a bit sad. I had not intended for that. I looked down at the jar I held. I held it with great care to ensure that I didn't bounce the fragile creatures around inside. "It sounds very interesting though, I'd like to see." I added.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:00 pm
Lauren Blake
I turned to look back at him, and noticed his somber expression. It was weird how his presence of only a few hours had somehow made bearing my solidarity and shame less of a burden, but at the same time he seemed to be carrying pounds upon pounds of his own burdens. I opened my mouth to....ask? But of course that was too forward. What teenager ever confides in adults anyway. "Well if you can't catch them then they will catch you." I said.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:28 pm
Todd Wells
I noticed him look back at me but I tried to avoid his eyes. I suddenly felt defensive. I didn't need him pitying me over my own insecurities. I was about to ask 'What??' as in what are you looking at but then he spoke up in the nick of time before I could make a complete fool of myself. All the years of confusion and people that loved to torture me at school I became much more stubborn and defensive over even the little things. His words weren't what I expected and I glanced up at him. I didn't know exactly what he meant by it but it sounded insightful and I was taken aback. "...They will catch me?" I wondered outloud. I felt so bad again I was sure that I might give in and break down but I just couldn't, not now. It wasn't fair to him.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:31 pm
Lauren Blake
"Mm-Hm" I said almost in a sing-song manner. "You'll see what I mean when we get there." I walked past the back doors and onto the back porch. The edge of the forest looked not to far away and to an extent it wasn't, but if you're walking and the heat is high enough you'll think its quite the distance. I leaned down, setting the jars on the ground and removed my shoes, slipping on the pair of old leather boots that I usually wore when I went hiking, or hunting.....fireflies. "Do you want to wear a pair too?" I asked. "You probably won't need them, but I wear mine because it makes me feel like i'm doing something braver than just catching lighting bugs." Most of that was for his benefit, maybe I wanted him to laugh and erase those thought wrinkles that were forming on his forehead. I enjoyed my fireflies no matter what.
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:58 pm
Todd Wells
"Cool." I replied simply as I came out onto the porch behind him. It was interesting to me how just a few hours ago we were out here on this very porch when it ended on a bad note. Now I was back on the porch with him except for the night sky to gaze at and the blackened forest in the distance. I smiled down at the jar liking the gentle glow of the fireflies that radiated out of the jar. I looked down at his boots when he was down putting them on and chuckled at what he said. "I suppose not then, I don't wish to trouble you." I I was embracing the jar close to my chest now as I stayed silent for a second or two before speaking again. "Funny, you seem plently brave to me with or without the boots." I smiled matter of factly. I had no reason to lie about that because I really believed it was true. True that he was also a braver person then myself. I walked passed him towards the end of the porch and concentrated my eyes for any sign of more flickering fireflies in the distance. I suddenly really wanted him to show me this secret hobby of his and looked over at him curiously as I waited for him to lead the way.
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