Mr. Mittens

This is a short story I wrote from a prompt in my school's writing group, Ex Libris. I thought it was fun! Hope you enjoy!

Mr. Mittens

After a long day of standing, he discovered that his large intestine had grown a mousetrap. All of a sudden he felt a snap in his stomach. It seemed as though something was pinching his insides. He knew that he was going to need to get to a vet. This was when Mr. Mittens decided to go seek the human. Mittens was a cat you see and early this morning he tried to catch a mouse. It was only now that Mittens realized the mouse had already been caught prior to his discovery of the poor creature. He had gobbled it up mousetrap and all.

Mr. Mittens’ owner, Amy, was nearby and heard a yowling coming from her living room. She happened upon her kitty lying on the floor in pain. Mr. Mittens was helpless and in need of serious medical attention. Amy could see that she was too late to help Mr. Mittens, as the nearest vet was 50 miles away. Amy disposed of Mittens body, burying him in her garden as tears streamed down her face.

As it turned out, Mr. Mittens was not dead. He clawed his way back out of the earth, mousetrap and all. He made his way to the street and got run over by a truck. Then Mr. Mittens was dead.

RIP Mr. Mittens

Writing About My Cancer

Just a couple days ago I had my second article published by The Odyssey. You can read it here. For this article I wrote about some of the things I learned while I had Thyroid Cancer earlier this year. The only other time I had written about being sick was on this very blog a few months ago. I learned a lot while I was sick but sometimes looking back I get mad at myself. I remember how tired and weak I was but I still find myself thinking, You could have done more. I still regret having to give up stage managing a huge show so sometimes I start wondering if I could have done it by pushing myself just a little harder. I talk about how impressive it was that I got a 4.0 yet then I think, But you couldn't even stage manage a show. That's not very impressive. I know this is ridiculous but I still think it. It's part of my personality as a people pleaser and overachiever. I always think I could have done more. The good news is now I mostly just think I could do more instead of actually trying to do more because I know when I'm wrong. This is just something that I thought about as I wrote that article. If I've learned anything from my cancer experience it's that people are not always right, including your own self.

First Time Writing for The Odyssey

I just published my first article for The Odyssey! It's called "10 Things Public High School Students Experience At A Christian College" and you can read it here. I was inspired to write this because I found many things about going to a Christian school to be odd or challenging as a student coming from 13 years of public schooling. Also, our school has gradually become more and more diverse over the course of time that I've seen the student body grow.

Preacher "The Possibilities" Review

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

This week's episode was something else. It seems that Tulip has finally gotten through to Jesse with her attempts to get him committing crimes with her again. We had some great Cassidy moments as well as a great Eugene scene. Jesse has been testing out his new powers more and more. Viewers also got to see an example of just how long Jesse's commands can last. It seems that the creepy bus driver still can't remember just what his sins were. Miracles and strange happenings are being left in Jesse's wake wherever he goes and it won't be long before people start to catch on. Who knows what might happen if anyone start asking questions.

I can't wait to see where all of this does lead. Sorry for the short review but I stayed up to watch this episode after the Tonys so my brain is a little fried.

As a bonus just know that this is what I imagine anytime Jesse calls Cassidy "Cas" and I can't help dying of laughter every single time.

Motor City Pride 2016, Orlando, The Tonys, and Hamilton

This was quite the eventful weekend! There were some good things that happened and some not so good. Everything started off great when I went to Motor City Pride on Saturday with my Mom and Aunt. This was my first time going and I've wanted to attend ever since I first came out nearly six years ago when I was about 14. It gave me a chance to finally wear my Bi Pride shirt and I also painted my nails the colors of the Bi Pride Flag. Everyone at the festival was just so happy and nice. It was great to be in such a huge, diverse crowd of people and know that none of them held anything against me just for being me. It was really hot but it was totally worth it. I hope that next year I can go for the parade.

When I woke up today after having just gone to my first pride festival the day prior I was devastated to hear the news of the Orlando shooting. I fear that I don't even have the words to describe what I am feeling about this tragedy. We've come so far what with the marriage ruling last June but it seems the U.S. has taken huge steps backwards in its acceptance of the LGBT community since that day. I just hope the rest of us can continue to fight against those prejudiced people who would rather see their fellow humans crash and burn than even be tolerant of anyone different. My heart goes out to all those effected by the United State's largest civilian massacre.

As horrible as today's events were, I couldn't let it put too much of a damper on things since tonight was the 70th Annual Tony Awards. I've been watching the Tonys for eight years and this year was the best. James Corden did a wonderful job hosting and his opening sequence was perfection!

The Tonys were dedicated to the victims of the Orlando shooting. This was so perfect and typical. Theatre is the most accepting community I have ever been a part of. Broadway is probably the most diverse and welcoming place in this country right now. Everything about the Tonys tonight reflected that. From one of the most diverse musicals in history (cough ... Hamilton) winning 11 awards (including Best Musical) to James Corden's speech about absolutely anyone being able to be whoever they want to be to the numerous knocks on the worst person in America (Donald Trump). This night was perfection and exactly the kind of energy that needed to be put into the world at this moment.

Some other highlights include:

The Hamilton Performance

The School of Rock Performance

and

James Corden's Broadway Carpool Karaoke

I can't know if things will ever get better or if we will ever have quite as great a President as Obama again but one can hope. Sometimes I am astounded at how horrible America is right now but other times terrifying events like the Orlando shooting or brilliant works like Hamilton remind me that as terrible as everything might seem we truly are lucky to be alive right now. You never know when will be your last day or who will tell your story.

Oh and by the way Alexander Hamilton was bi. I like to think he would be on the right side of history right now and that he would want to remind everyone that history has its eyes on you.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Re-Read

So if you're keeping up, I'm re-reading Harry Potter for the billionth time in preparation for the release of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script and sharing my thoughts on them sixteen years after first picking up the series. I also have every intention of choosing a favorite through the course of this re-read. Caught up? Good. Moving on.

Some new realizations I had and little things I noticed while re-reading Prisoner of Azkaban:
- Harry is so angsty at the beginning of this one.
- ALL THE ANGST FROM THE GOLDEN TRIO!!!
- SO MUCH ANGST!
- I don't remember being this drawn in to the story of the Marauders when I was younger. Why? They're all so amazing! Especially Lupin. And I never saw how tragic all that happened to Sirius was. I mean I got that it was sad when I was little but I felt more sad for Harry not being able to go live with him than anything else. But everything else that happened was breaking my heart this time around. I mean Harry not getting to live with him was sad to but being framed and imprisoned and just - I can't even.
- This is the one where Hermione slaps Draco! <3
- The Time Turner is SO magical. I can understand now that I'm in college and want to take all the classes why she stressed herself out so bad to take all of the courses being offered.
- When Hermione walked out of Divination! Just YES! That is what it feels like sitting in Gen Eds. Like yes I realize I could actually be doing something worth while but instead I'm sitting here learning something I will NEVER need to know! I feel that.
- Ron and Harry are idiots and so mean to poor Hermione! She is the only mature one. Girls always mature faster. Did they really not think the Firebolt was suspicious and how are you going to control what a cat does? It's an animal. Plus she was thirteen so she was probably going through puberty and getting her first period and crap and trying to take so many classes and helping Hagrid with Buckbeak's case but Ron and Harry just have to be inconsiderate little jerkwagons.
- If Harry let Sirius kill Pettigrew everyone would have lived happily ever after.
- Lupin is the best teacher Hogwarts ever knew.
- It makes me sad that Lupin probably would have been allowed to take care of Harry if he wasn't a werewolf.
- This is the book where Harry starts to become a sass master.

My final verdict?
I love this book so much! The world building Jo does here is absolutely phenomenal. Animagi, Hogsmeade, The Knight Bus, The Marauder's Map, Dementors, Time Turners, Divination, Hippogriffs! The list could go on and on. She delves into so many different interesting topics and it makes the world ever more engrossing. The early teen angst is so on point. The trio lets their emotions get the better of them constantly and that is so realistic. It's a good thing Voldemort didn't rise to power in Prisoner of Azkaban. I feel like this is how it would have gone:

Voldemort: AVADA-
Harry: Go on then! Just kill me! I hate my life! It sucks and my parents are dead and I hate everything! *falls to floor and pounds fists in hysterics*
Voldemort: Why don't I just come back in a few years when you actually give a shit then? Dear Wizard God! Children these days!

I mean for real Harry is so reckless and dumb. Thank goodness for Hermione. But all the wonderful new things presented in Prisoner of Azkaban make it the best in the series so far. Harry's stubborn death wish can even be endearing at times simply because of its accuracy. Teenagers tend to think they are invincible even in the real world. Imagine how much having magic powers could inflame that sensation. At least the wit that develops out of his angst is on point. I love Prisoner of Azkaban.

Lindsey's Story

This is my first short story that I will be posting on my blog. I guess you could categorize it as Flash Fiction based on the amount of words in it. I know not to post stuff that I want to get published but I can't publish this anyway because it is written from a prompt int Gail Carson Levine's book, Writing Magic, (which I am loving working out of) so here ya go! Feel free to leave feedback.

Lindsey’s Story

The first time I saw Stephen, he painted a hex sign on my right arm, and I couldn’t move my fingers for three hours.  I was six years old then. The next time I saw him Stephen was eighteen and his power was ten times that of what it was ten years ago. When you’re six people think you’re just making this sort of thing up. They think you have some sort of imaginary friend. It’s not until you’re sixteen that it's no longer cute and they decide to have you committed for making up boys who can literally freeze you.

            Seeing Stephen the second time happened about two years ago now. I told the same story to countless doctors in my time at Smythe’s Mental Healthcare Estate for Young People. I was waiting for the bus after going out to see a movie with some friends when I encountered a boy who had then frozen me in place. I knew it was Stephen only when he began retracing the same spot on my right arm that he had painted that sigil on  exactly ten years ago. Only this time it wasn’t just my fingers but my entire body that was immobilized.

He dragged me completely conscious to a dark alley. There I remember trying to get away but he laughed, as I couldn’t even move. As I lay on the cold concrete unable to move a muscle. He didn’t do anything more to me but his touch had burned a mark into my skin that has yet to fade. He didn’t speak out loud but instead I heard his words in my mind.

“You’re mine now, Lindsey.” Stephen said, his green eyes bearing into my soul. “You will always be mine and you will come to me when called. I could make you do anything right now and you would not be able to fight it. But I won’t. I don’t need to... yet.”

Then he left. Just like that. After I got home I spent weeks researching the depths of the Internet for any kind of monster like this boy. I found other girls with similar experiences. All of whom were too afraid to tell their friends and families about them. Some of the young men with this power used it for good and some not so much… Many of these young women were assault victims of the predators or had been forced to commit some horrible crime. The ones who seemed to be doing good with their powers always asked for a favor in return and sometimes that was where their evil came to light. For when you promised something to one of them they held you to it without fail.

I began to have nightmares and Stephen was the star in them. One day I also began seeing him everywhere I went but I couldn’t tell if it was really him or not. I had to tell someone and of course when I did I instantly regretted this decision. My mother came to the conclusion that there was something wrong with me when I came to her. That’s when my stay at the Estate began.

 I’ve lived in fear that he might come for me ever since the last time I was frozen. Of course, this is what they call paranoid-schizophrenia in a psych ward. Hallucinations, anxiety, and panic attacks fitting their diagnosis perfectly. They might also call it PTSD if they believed me. If anyone would just believe that what happened was a supernatural violation of my mind and body. Instead I must live in fear of my attacker at all times because not a single soul will trust that I am sane.

On my 168th day at Smythe’s as I climb into my bed I resolve to start pretending I’m “cured” so I can at least get out of here. Anything is better than this. Then just as I slip under the covers I hear a lilting voice say, “Lindsey… Come out, come out, wherever you are...” and I freeze.