Sunday, June 17, 2018

7:31 p.m.

Happy Father's Day!

It's a bit late in the day for this post, but I can assure you that I have already talked to my Dad today. He's having a good time with his new puppy, Molly. Everyone was there with my folks this weekend, except me. 

(Sad face!)

I will be back with them in Wyoming soon. I just have to do the Colorado stuff for a while. 

When is that transporter going to be ready, Science? I really need one. 

In the meantime, it's awfully great to see my father smile like this. See, Dad? We told you so! You need a puppy!

By the way, Mom doesn't look too upset about it, either. Does she?

Hee hee hee! My brother and his wife are just the best! Great plan, guys!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Okay, I know I promised #WriteAwayJune Days 15 and 16 today, but I'm going to go out of order for this post and do Day 17 first, since it is a Father's Day challenge. Then I'll end the post with 15 and 16. 

#WriteAwayJune Day 17 - Write a Father's Day card for your character's father. 

Dear Daddy--When I was in the 4th grade, my teacher asked us to write about our favorite super hero, so I wrote about you. I had to write the assignment again, because she was talking about Superman or Batman--make believe heroes. But she also graded my story of you as extra credit, because, she said, it was too good a story to disregard even if I misunderstood the instructions.
I didn't misunderstand, and I stand by my original choice. To me, everything about you is super, and you have always been my hero. Those comic book guys have got nothing on you! I love you, Daddy!

This may be written as my character, Emma, to her father, Jack Knight, but it is oh, so true of me and my father. He will always be my hero. 

#WriteAwayJune Day 15 - Write three different endings to the writing prompt you chose yesterday.

I didn't say so yesterday, but this was the writing prompt I chose, since it seemed appropriate for my character: "Record the story of a family name, as told by the ghosts who wore it."

The story changes about halfway through, starting here:

“Well,” Emma said, that explains some of it, but how did the name get passed down to my great-grandmother? Oh, and then changed?”

“Well, I was a tiny thing, and when I joined up with the circus, I was first hired as a barker.”

“What’s a barker?” Melody asked.

“Someone who shouts out to people passing by, trying to get them to come in and see certain shows,” Emma explained.

Layla nodded in agreement. “Yes,” she said. “It was amusing to everyone to hear the big voice that came out of this little body.” She stood up, held out her arms and called, “Come on, come all! See the Great Gregorio, nine feet of muscles and nine yards of heart! See the lovely Benita, fat lady extraordinaire! Her weight is exceeded only by her enormous brain. Ask her anything, you will see!”

Emma clapped her hands over her ears, while Melody goggled at her comically. “Got it,” she giggled. “Big voice!”

“Ah,” Melody nodded.

“One day a rat skittered across my shoes as I worked, and I let out an amazingly loud scream,” Layla continued. “That’s when I was promoted to the clown house.”

“You became a clown?”

“Ugh!” Melody shuddered.

“Hey, someone has to do it,” Layla muttered.

“Er—okay,” Emma said, but with reservations. Personally, she held clowns in the same regard as dolls. And rats. And spiders.

Other than dolls, Melody would agree. Mel had no issues with dolls.

“So, you became a clown—?” Emma prompted.

“And the stupid boss changed my name from Marconi to Macaroni the first time we appeared in Britain.”

This led to a fit of giggles that left Melody on the floor and Emma rolling on the bed.

Layla looked fit to be tied. “Well, I know it must sound funny to you,” she fussed, “but imaging how I felt!”

Emma and her sister worked hard at composing themselves. “Sorry, Layla—”

“Macaroni!” Melody sang to the tune of Yankee Doodle, and off they went again, giggling.

“Knock it off, Mel,” Emma commanded, biting her lip to keep a straight face. “What did you do, Layla?”

“Once we finished our appearances in the English-speaking areas and returned to Sicily, I told the owner of the circus that I was not going to continue with the clowns. I felt very disrespected.”

Emma cleared her throat. “I understand,” she said, and felt ashamed of herself for laughing. “Then what happened?”

“I was put in merchandising. I met my husband working there. His name was Klaus, but he had no last name; he was a bastard. We left the circus a few years later after saving enough money to start our own business, and we took the name Merchant as part of our new life plan.”

“So,” Emma mused, “I can keep researching the line if I look for Marconi, Marcon or Marquis?”

Layla shrugged. “All I can tell you is my father was born François Marquis.”

“Another Frank,” Emma said.

“No, that was my son. Franklin Merchant, born in Liverpool.”

“When?” Emma asked.

But Layla was gone. “Well, dang!”

“Back to the library,” Melody sighed.

*** I spent most of the day out, so I only have one extra ending/version for this challenge. My apologies. I do, however, have lots of Comic-Con pictures!

#WriteAwayJune Day 16 - Coffee, Tea or Cocoa? (This was an easy one!)

Emma is a coffee drinker with a serious volume problem. She starts the day with a full pot, and drinks it all day. She adds 2 percent milk instead of cream and no sugar so she can convince herself that she's not overdoing it.

So, thanks for joining me tonight!

Until we meet again.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!!