THE REVIEW

GOING BACKWARDS


Those of us at the meeting last night signed a birthday card that went with the flowers Gemma brought to give to Margaret for her 86th birthday, which was earlier this month. She said from now on her age is going backwards in years. Here! Here!

Jim brought the latest issue of Eclectica Magazine, which includes a short story and a recipe by him, a poem by Anne Berrie, and another short story by me. And on the back cover it says to look for something by Gemma in the next issue. Way to go, fellow Rams!

Those arriving at my place last night thought perhaps they were on the wrong street. They did notice that our house was the same, just that the monster hedge across the street was gone, and the houses on the next street over were now visible. But without the hedge protruding six feet into the middle of the road, there is now ample parking space for visitors again.

Jason said his notebook died, so he spent the necessary funds and now has a brand new Mac desktop computer that he loves.

Bob read first, sharing the reply he received from the Boston Red Sox to the fan letter he had sent them. They thanked him graciously and said they were flattered by his loyalty as a fan.

To finish his story about the electronics nightmare he and Carole went through at Christmas, Bob read the second half of his story. Between all the extra equipment needed and the scheduling problems with installers, it’s a wonder they didn’t both decide to join the Amish. However, everything now works and the dust has settled, sort of. He thinks his sons are now annoyed that he didn’t consult with them about it all.

Margaret read her next chapter, “Ghost At Mossity Manor”. Dye and Coffin have received a letter from Lord Mossity who has seen a female ghost and her dog in his library. Since he has a writers’ group coming to meet there the following Friday and is afraid of their reaction if they see a ghost, he wishes to hire Dye and Coffin to eradicate the ghost. Dye tells Coffin he should go to the meeting as a writer, as Dye is busy renovating their office. But Coffin refuses. So Dye offers to let Coffin use the Rolls Royce if he goes. Of course Coffin changes his mind.

Gemma read part of a 5000 word story she has, which is untitled. An older woman named Barbara is awakened by a phone call from Bob, a man she loves. He says he’s coming to visit her and she agrees to meet him at the airport. Bob dallies with the much younger flight attendant and is in no hurry to see Barbara. When he does see her, he’s appalled by her wrinkled skin, but falesly tells her she’s beautiful, and then takes her home and beds her. He just wants her money. (Jim said he’s still waiting to meet the woman who would like to keep him in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.)

Jason read Chapter 3 in his rewrite. Greg is still in his Great Gran’s living room, and she tells him of strange magic in the forest, and tells him to beware the shadows. She also tells him he and Jodie are destined to be together and that Jodie must wear a pendant she pulls from the secret compartment of an old book, and that he should give it to Jodie for her 16th birthday. Greg’s mother shows up and starts drinking wine. His brother, Dave is also there, as well as Bruce, who magically starts a fire in the fireplace and says it is ‘an Indian thing’. When Greg’s Mom gets upset and says they are leaving, Great Gran then tells them all she’s dying and Greg’s Mom starts crying.

Jim read to us his rewrite of the beginning of his romance novel, “High Fashion”. The rewrite works much better, and even though it still opens with the heroine dreaming of a sexual encounter with a stranger, it’s not a long enough dream to eclipse any later sexual encounter with the as yet, unmet, hero. The rewrite was a much smoother read.

Marilyn said she had hoped to attend last night’s meeting, but ended up going to a meeting on genealogy, her pet passion, instead. Ron was unable to attend as he is caring for an aging father. And Danny had phoned Margaret and Marshall to say he had to work.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, feel free to bring anything you’ve written on that theme. But then, lack of love is sometimes a good theme, too. As Jim’s benediction/curse goes: May your Muse bonk you up the side of the head, bang around inside your brain, and flow out of your fingertips.

See you February 3rd.

Lisa