Relay: The Hot Chocolate
Writing Exercise #6
This is the first Relay—I am given the first line of a story and I must finish it. No explicit restrictions on this exercise but I will limit myself to 1,000 words just so that I have room to move but still can’t take forever.
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Enjoy!
Relay: For the first time in her life, Janie felt powerful.
(source #13)
For the first time in her life, Janie felt powerful. Or, what felt like the first time. It felt good to be in control. There was exhilaration in her arms, her heart was beating fast. She felt her pulse beating hard in her neck, below her jaw. She let out an involuntary “Whoop!”—and then covered her mouth. Hopefully no one heard her.
She tip-toed back to her room, carrying the fruits of her successful harvest. She was alive and she felt her life-blood pumping through her veins.
She sat on her bed and gently, ever so gently, tilted the mug of hot chocolate to her lips. I am powerful, she thought to herself.
She closed her eyes and tried to think back. Back to the before-time.
As the smell of warm chocolate filled the air, she was back—back as a child, back with her family. She was warm in a teddy-bear patterned onesie. She was running around her house, chasing her brothers, her mom laughing. Her Dad was outside, splitting firewood. Mom poured three big mugs for her and her brothers. She set them gently and expertly on the table. Janie and her siblings rushed over and grabbed the too-hot mugs in their tiny hands, trying desperately to be the first to take a sweet, aromatic sip.
The sound of an engine outside stirred Janie from her reverie. She took a fleeting sip and tiptoed out of her room. The sun peeked through cracks in the boards, revealing thin rays glittering with dust. Janie approached the boards holding the door closed, and peeked outside.
The evening sun was approaching the trees. The sky was orange and fading into her reds and violets. The dirt road was bare—not a soul was stirring.
Where was that engine coming from?
She longed to return to her rapidly cooling cup of hot chocolate. She did not want to be doing this—to be on high alert as night was falling. She wanted to be left alone. The hot chocolate was acquired in a venture of great cost—but it was worth it. I am powerful.
She could hear the faint sound of an engine again—getting louder, this time. She grabbed the shotgun she kept above the doorframe. Just in case, she told herself. Not gonna need you today. But just in case. She took easy, deep, slow breaths. They’re just passing through.
Then she saw them. Her heart stopped.
They’re back.
(411 words)
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy! Come back next week for another writing exercise!
God bless!