Love of Writing discussion
Monthly Short Story Contest
>
April is not for Foolish Jokes...lets get serious here
date
newest »
newest »
message 51:
by
Christene
(new)
Apr 25, 2018 08:08AM
Excellent Shelly....looking forward to reading it
reply
|
flag
This turned out to be more of a struggle than I anticipated. When I first read this challenge I missed the part about it being "preteen". Due to an incident a few years ago most of my childhood memories have disappeared. However, after a lot of deep thought ,a little research, and a walk down memory lane with my sister, I have an event that forever changed the world and I witnessed it first hand. Typical to me, however, my entry will come in right under the deadline.
Can't wait to read your story, Lynette. Lynette wrote: "This turned out to be more of a struggle than I anticipated. When I first read this challenge I missed the part about it being "preteen". Due to an incident a few years ago most of my childhood mem..."
Lynette good for you...glad you are participating this time
A great use of storytelling skills, Elaine. A most enjoyable read and quite a bit of life lesson, words to live by and a measure of entertainment to boot!Elaine wrote: "One Hundred Apple Boxes 945 words
In 1950, I was eight years old. In Sonoma County where I grew up, apples provided the county’s major industry. My mother worked in an apple-processing plant while..."
Great story that is filled with great events and very important moments that go into making a great adult. Todd wrote: "Mario and Me – by Todd Folstad – 890 wordsMost folks that know me know that my life is driven by two major forces, writing and singing, though the former less so than the latter. I’ve been chroni..."
Wow, Lynette!! You've really piqued my interest. I'm looking forward to reading your story.It's about 8:30 and I have another hour before I can head home. I'm dragging tonight and needed a little fun escape as a pick-me-up, so I came to see what was new here. You all never fail to disappoint with your stories, encouraging comments and general banter. Thank you. I appreciate you so very much.
OK, here goes. As I stated above I remember people from my childhood, but have been robbed of particular events but this one event has stuck with me, even if I can't remember the details. It would be several years years before I would fully understand how heroic these three men were. I was an adult before I truly came to appreciate what they did, and how it forever changed my future.
Most of this story is factual as I lived it. Some had to be characterized. Hope you enjoy this story written from my eight year old perspective.
Watching the World Change 978 words As an eight year old in the middle of Redneck Montana I was missing the significance of the events that happened starting July 16 1969.
That morning started with our mother bursting into our room and shaking the bunk bed frame. “Get up, get up. You don’t want to miss this!” She declared and vanished.
“What’s with her?” My brother Albert growled.
Jumping down off the top bunk I shrugged. “Dang if I know.”
“Hurry up, Hurry up!” She called.
As we stumbled out into the living room we were a bit surprised to see mom this excited so early in the morning. Our elder sister, Charmaine, rushed into the living room just after us. She seemed to be as worked up as our mother was.
“Have they taken off yet?” My sister inquired.
“Not yet. They just started the count down.”
“This is so exciting.” Charmaine declared.
Still not understanding what all the excitement was about, Albert and I silently attempted to sneak off. With that third eye in the back of her head, mom caught us and abruptly halted our retreat.
“Where do you think you are going? You are about to witness history here.”
Albert and I exchanged glances. He ventured a protest.
“What history? It is a stupid rocket.”
Her hand shot up to point at the TV. “That rocket, young man, is taking the first men who will walk on the moon.”
Well that caught our attention. Falling right into the excitement I pushed myself between my mother and my sister. “Really?”
“Yes really, stupid.” Charmaine snapped.
“Shut up, stupid.” I retorted.
“Quiet!” Mom barked.
A few minutes later we gasped in awe as the fire shot out from under the Saturn V and it lifted off. Excitement over, I sauntered out to the kitchen for a bowl of Kix to start my eight year old day.
Everyone in that tiny town was talking about it for the next three days. Even TV was nothing but a bunch of old men talking about it. Well, at least they weren’t talking about the war and protests. Still, my younger brother and I soon lost patience with it and stopped listening.
At first July 20,1969 seemed to be no different than any other day. Dad got up and went to work at the school, Charmaine annoyed me like sisters do, and mom was flitting around the house doing whatever it is that moms do. Albert and I spent the whole gorgeous day outside.
By late afternoon we figured out something was afoot. People kept talking about going to the school and started calling their kids home. Our tiny town had its own version of a barking chain. A parent would step out on the porch and call a name. If the child did not respond the neighbor took over. In a town that is eight blocks wide and six blocks long we were lucky if we dodged the adults for more than a few minutes.
Pretty soon our names came down the chain so we headed home. After a day of misadventures we were our typical filthy selves and mom’s face had the all too familiar horrid expression.
“Hurry up and clean up,“ she ordered. “We have to get up to the school.”
“For what ? There ain’t no school.” I protested.
“Because the astronauts are about to walk on the moon, stupid,” my sister answered from the living room.
“Shut up, stupid.” Our sisterly communication was not the best in those days.
A few minutes later we were hustled into the school gymnasium. The kids were herded to the front where “child size” chairs were lined up, and my dad was rushing around making sure everyone else had seats with a good view of the huge screen. The principle and a couple of the teachers were frantically working on some equipment.
Leaning over to me, my friend Lori inquired, “What the heck is going on? Is there a war or something?”
I shrugged. “I think it is something to do with those men landing on the moon.”
“Who cares about some dolts landing on the moon?” Eric chimed in to my left.
Sitting to Lori‘s right was Cammy. “My mom says we are witnessing history.”
“You can’t witness history, Cammy.” Diana argued beside her. “Remember that stupid book Mrs. Hitch made us memorize.”
Before any of us could say a word images started to flash on the screen, and we were admittedly fascinated as a man descended the steps and we heard the legendary words."That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
The room erupted into cheers and tears as the dust spiraled up from the moon‘s surface. A couple of hours later we were back home and I was sitting alone in the back yard trying to wrap my eight year old mind around what I just witnessed. Soon Albert joined me and for several minutes we stared silently at the moon.
“Do you really think they are up there walking around?” I asked out loud.
“Sure seems like it,” he answered. “But one thing is really bugging me.”
Tearing my attention away from the moon, I shifted it to my younger brother. “What’s that?”
“I didn’t see any cheese, or man in the moon, or nothing like we’ve been told.”
Leaning back on my arms I looked back up to the moon. “Nope, me either. Guess no one knew any better until today. And did you see them hopping around? It was like it’s one big trampoline up there.”
Laying back on the grass Albert laughed. “That would be pretty cool to have a whole planet that was a big trampoline. At least no one would be yelling at you to watch the edge.”
It would take a few years to sort all that out.
Well done Lynette...I will have a wonderful read of all these stories on Sat afternoon with a great pot of tea...looking forward to a super afternoon and evening thanks to everyone.
Andy wrote: "Just downloaded Mrs Odboddy #1, Elaine :-)"FYI to ANDY and GROUP: Mrs. Odboddy Undercover Courier, the second in the series is FREE at Amazon through tomorrow! Yea! You can read for free. Download now! httP://tinyurl/com/jn5bzwb That was scandalous self-promotion, wasn't it?
The Strange Neighbor by F. F. Burwick 957 wordsShe was living at this place a few houses down the same street. It was a home that was mostly hidden by the trees on the plot in the front and the heavy growth of vegetation further on toward that house. She wasn't seen much, mainly it was when a man came delivering things in boxes, and she would come out to evidently sign for them and carry them as she went back in. A couple of friends told me she was a witch, and I also heard a rumor that she was involved in foul play in cases of disappearing persons. She was seen wearing long dresses, with long and beautifully full red but not really well-combed hair.
I was looking for yard work for some pay from neighbors when I was at that young age for it. I had tried with all the other houses along the street in our neighborhood, no one thought they needed that from me. Finally I decided I really should see if I would get an offer for that at the house with all that heavy growth in front, it did seem likely that there was work desired for some of that.
I went up to it finally, with what boldness I could muster, and once at the gate along the fence from which a path with decorative stepping stones led to the front door at the house, I hesitated, and then still walked forward. Then I panicked as I came close to the door, the experience was evidently too much for my young nerves, I turned then, to give up.
As I walked away, just about reaching the gate, I heard her voice behind me. "Hi, son, were you wanting something?"
I froze, and for a moment I didn't know what to say. I had just decided I didn't want to do anything there. Now I needed to say something anyway. I turned then, looking shyly at her, and saw she did not look so threatening. "I thought maybe someone living here might need help, so I was coming to check, but it was dark and quiet, so then I figured no one was at home. I didn't know you would be here."
"Oh. I am not sick, hurt, or disabled in some way, if you thought that. But I do have my hands full. If you would really still like to be of any help, I can show you where I would need help."
"Um, okay. Maybe you can find that my help would be worth something to you." It was not the best thing to say, but I was looking for a small job that I could do, and hadn't really looked to just be helpful to others as I had made it sound, and didn't want to be caught into doing things for her for nothing."
"Alright, come this way. You should see what I mean."
She led me through her home, continuing toward the back. There were many items in her home, filling up the spaces, some of the items on top of boxes of other items. We went past where she had a couch which seemed to be a foldout bed and a loveseat were placed, with a coffee table and a corner table, there were low flat boxes which were open sided on top, with towels lying inside along the bottoms, on the floor of that room. It was quite different from any other home I had yet seen, and I didn't know what to expect as she led me out the back side of that home.
This backyard to her home was packed with amazing diversions, like wheels, tunnels, slides, and a mound with thick-growing shrubs along the top which ran around a large portion of that yard to form a complex maze, all for entertaining a variety of dogs she had there. In a greenhouse to the side, along with the green plants growing in there, perches were seen standing, and several birds were on some of them or flying from place to place in there.
"My name is Mirelda," she told me, and she asked me and I told her my name. She explained, "I find stray dogs, and occasionally seriously hurt or neglected dogs, sometimes other needy animals, and I do what I can to care and provide for them, and deal responsibly with medical attention they may need. I provide them a safe place with me here, and make it as happy and engaging a place as I can for them. Doing this takes so much of my attention."
Learning this helped me understand how it was that Mirelda wasn't seen much away from her home, and that she wasn't just in hiding for being involved in foul play, or anything like a witch."If you are helpful and willing, I can give you a small job here with picking up and light cleaning, and go on errands for bringing small things here." She discussed with me then what pay she hoped would interest me, and what times I might be expected to be there to help.
I helped there on four days each week. During that time, for over two years, until my family moved with me from there, I saw more of how Mirelda was involved in the needs of animals, that others were not caring for. I saw also how the animals she cared for improved, and showed they were loving pets that would be worthwhile to the ones that cared for them. I see many animals now later in life need attention in that way, and I remember Mirelda, and there can be such help to needy animals that come from any people like us.
Well done authors there are some fabulous stories submitted here...and yes I stayed up late last night reading them all...standing ovation for all 9 entries. I will be posting all of my comments this afternoon when I get home. 1. “One Hundred Apple Boxes by Elaine…945 words.
2. “Mario and Me” by Todd Folstad…890 words.
3. “Beyond the Gap” by Terry Turner…831 words.
4. “She Talked with Angels” by Rebecca…998 words.
5. “Sister's Accident” by Patricia Fuqua Lovett…744 words.
6. “Ambushed by Absence” by Andy…967 words.
7. “The Round Schoolhouse” by Shelly Heskett Harris…797 words
8. ”Watching the World Change” by Lynette… 978 words
9. “The Strange Neighbor” by F. F. Burwick…957 words
Some personal thoughts and comments of mine, its definitely going to be hard picking the winners as you all did such superb writing. 1. “One Hundred Apple Boxes by Elaine…945 words.
Oh my! Elaine, what a wonderful story of a lesson learned in childhood, great reiteration of that lesson with those recurring scriptural references. Took me right into the fifties with your dollar and family values etc… Daddy certainly did not ‘spare the rod and spoil he child’ (or drum stick…lol). Smooth flow throughout with good description of childhood rage/revenge. Am wondering if you still enjoy apples today?
2. “Mario and Me” by Todd Folstad…890 words.
Todd I do understand totally as I remember seeing Mario Lanza in Return to Sorrento when I was about 7-8.: it was at the Saturday night movie house: you took me right back there again with your story. Very full detailed opening paragraphs: you set up your tale well: that was necessary with the way you eventually narrated and unfolded the whole plot. Excellent!
3. “Beyond the Gap” by Terry Turner…831 words.
Terry you always amaze me with the way your stories have gotten so skilled and proficient…this one didn’t disappoint me either. You set up the hero and outer limits of your story early, slowly moved in emotions, weaving them in and out till the end: a great story teller always uses the reader’s own emotions as part of the process and you did this. Great job!
4. “She Talked with Angels” by Rebecca…998 words.
You placed the sense of smell in the scent of those gardenias as the trigger to recoiling memories, nice one. SF, Magic, mysticism, angels, fortune telling, wishes and outcomes fascinate a lot of people today so you had a current relevant audience topic to explore and flesh out: because so many don’t understand what it is all about, they mix fact and fiction so cunningly that it is all grouped into a loosely based truth? You put them all in your story.
5. “Sister's Accident” by Patricia Fuqua Lovett…744 words.
How tragic an incident for two young children to go through, but I loved the positive ending and outcome, for prayers are said to work wonders in healing aren’t they, along with some remarkable doctors. I loved your family oriented story so much. As for putting faith into people/things, we all believe what we want to don’t we?
6. “Ambushed by Absence” by Andy…967 words.
Memories of a child woven into their reality: joining with facts what that child wanted or imagined are very powerful tools to use. Well told touching story of your childhood hero, a father who was larger than life itself. Heroes built up this way are often seen as superheroes and you filled in any missing pieces very professionally and linked them all admirably.
7. “The Round Schoolhouse” by Shelly Heskett Harris…Words 797
I take my hat off to teachers like Miss Andrews; it’s not an easy job controlling a class full of other people’s children, some with a modicum of parental training. You set up a background on nuclear war and perilous living under that threat daily with a nicely detailed scenario. Summarizing well with a short editors note at the end, that’s always a skillful way of adding more story information.
8.”Watching the World Change” by Lynette… 978 words.
What a super fast moving story with marvelous dialogue between siblings, you brought into your depiction skepticism, wonder and conjecture of the historical moon landing that really did exist in 1969. Glad that you wrote this Lynette, outstanding story to draw in a reader, factual and believable. Well done!
9. “The Strange Neighbor” by F. F. Burwick…957 words
What a touchingly beautiful story of Mirelda, a lady who cared for so many animals, a boy who overcame his fear to approach a so called “witch” to ask for work. Loved how the belief and assumption turned out all wrong in the end. What a delightfully charming story that I finished with a sniffle or two…sigh!
You can send your votes to me here at Goodreads or to cbrittonjones@hotmail.com.
Sorry for not being around to feed back comments as the stories came in. But here's some comments after reading them all through in a couple of sittings, which has been a pleasure.Elaine - One Hundred Apple Boxes
An everyday tale of agricultural productivity :-) … very well-written and compelling. Maybe also a little jaw-dropping from a 21st century child development point of view! It’s an experience that could have taken you in a different direction also, i.e. one of resentment or rebellion – so it’s also about your response to such severe chastisement as well as the punishment itself. Interesting how the world has moved on. For me, very much a thought-provoking tale.
Todd – Mario and Me
Nice fluent, nostalgic story. And interesting about football and music being the twin influences – and the role of chance and Canada in bringing music and Mario to the fore. Can we find your singing anywhere on the ol’ interweb, Todd?
Terry – Beyond the Gap
Touching nd well-constructed story of a protective older brother. I like how some fine descriptive touches help convey a sense of immediacy. I hadn’t expected that ending - though looking back I can see it’s foreshadowed at the beginning of the story. Nice work.
Rebecca – She Talked with Angels
Interesting story, kind of benign twilight zone with a slightly spooky lady who knows stuff. I like the effective use of dialogue to move the story along.
The part where the narrator is wondering what her friend had got her into made me think of a time when, against my natural sceptical tendencies, a friend persuaded me to go to healer while I was waiting for a knee operation. She did some massage, then began to go all spiritual, holding her hands about an inch over the wrong knee and asking me if I could feel the warmth, the energy flowing through her (etc). I couldn’t, but in the end out of politeness I felt obliged to agree! OK, that one didn’t work, but in this story there’s a happier, and I suspect, predestined ending.
Patricia – Sister’s Accident
An evocative childhood story that also, in a different way, reminded me of my encounter with a self-styled healer! I think it’s the way you seamlessly drop in details like the food and the essential back coffee that add not only texture but a sensory element – I can almost smell the breakfast and taste the coffee! And I think you convey well the angst you felt over the accident – and from your introduction, that you still feel when you remember.
Shelly – The Round Schoolhouse
Another story that’s very evocative of an earlier time. The way you weave in the kids carrying on as normal with their kiddie interactions strikes me as being very true to life. I also like how the centipede also has an instinct to duck and cover :-)
I remember ‘duck and cover’ – we had similar guidance over in the UK. Though we didn’t have bombproof schoolhouses. We also had some challenging instructions about going out to dig trenches when the 20-minute warning went off!
Prompted me to go and check out Bert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMgWG... It seems like another world, doesn’t it?
Lynette – Watching the World Change
This is a story that authentically conveys a childs’-eye view of history in the making, complete with banter, arguments and insults! “You can’t witness history” – that’s quite a philosophical comment, isn’t it? The joking around the trampoline at the end of the story is fun, and seems just what kids that age might say.
In some ways the heroism is taken for granted by children: it’s stuff happening, like stuff does. And as your earlier comment said as one grows up there’s a growing realisation over time of just how significant, ground-breaking and dangerous the mission was.
Recent news has it that both the Chinese and Elon Musk are planning permanent colonies on the moon. So we’ve waited 50 years for the next step …
Fred – The Strange Neighbour
Strangeness comes in many forms. And that can be in an untypical, even eccentric kindness as the story shows. I think there’s also a message in here for our times, about rushing to judgement about people who are a bit different. Mirelda also seems to be ahead of her time with what they call these days ‘habitat enrichment’ for the animals, to make their lives more interesting and to reduce stress. A smoothly-written story with a message that I like very much.
I don't remember every having this much voting. Really well wriitten, engaging stories. You all did great. Thank you for sharing.
Fred, this is my favorite story you've written. It reminded my of a movie from my childhood, The Three Lives of Thomasina.
I just made it through all of the excellent offerings for this month - I'd have read them sooner today, however this weekend was the spring concert weekend for one of the choirs that I still perform in - just finishing our 20th season, the Bemidji Alumni Choir (all graduates or former singers from Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota). I now have about 6 weeks off until my first summer choir starts, the River City Singers and then in August I annually sing with the 9/11 Tribute Choir & Orchestra which will be in our 17th season. I have done some solo work with this group and to answer Andy's question, I do not have any clips out there of solo work, however, last February, I was in the 20 voice choir for the opening performance of the Game of Thrones LIVE tour that started here in St. Paul, Minnesota and did 20 cities in the US prior to the start of season 7 on HBO. There are some videos out there on YouTube and though you can't really hear much of us individually, I'm definitely recognizable as the largest of the singers on the runway from the St. Paul videos.
Mod
May's writing challenge is posted here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Just finished the stories and cast my votes. I also want to thank you, Christene, for hosting this month.Thank you everyone for your great stories. I love it when voting is a surmountable task.
Andy: Great to see you back. I have missed your great stories.
Also want to say welcome to our newest members. I have been in this group since it was created nearly 6 years ago now. We have rarely missed a month since it was started and many authors have come and gone since then. Most of them have gone on to follow their own paths in publishing. I would feel comfortable in saying that 90% of the authors who have passed through this group now have their own books published. I don't think Heather Schuldt ever imagined she was going to create a legacy when she started this group.
thank you Andy and Christene for taking the time to summarize the stories. As I read all month long, it's hard to remember some of the earlier stories exactly, and the summaries are so helpful in bringing them back to mind. I appreciate that so much. Thanks Christene for hosting. Now onward and upward. What's up for May?
Lynette wrote: "Watching the World Change
Your story brings back many memories. I was watching the moon landing events unfold on that date with a group of 20 years old about my age; some I knew, some I didn't. It was so quiet in the room while two astronauts were walking around on the lunar surface that you could hear a pin drop. UNTIL, some girl in the back said, "wouldn't it be funny if Buzz Aldrin slipped up behind Armstrong, put his hand over his visor and said 'Guess who?'
Your story brings back many memories. I was watching the moon landing events unfold on that date with a group of 20 years old about my age; some I knew, some I didn't. It was so quiet in the room while two astronauts were walking around on the lunar surface that you could hear a pin drop. UNTIL, some girl in the back said, "wouldn't it be funny if Buzz Aldrin slipped up behind Armstrong, put his hand over his visor and said 'Guess who?'
F.F. wrote: "The Strange Neighbor
Your story about the woman who helps animals was touching. I saw on Facebook this morning about some local women who braved the rain to rescue a dog in bad shape. They work with Sashas Hope and Rescue in Jasper Alabama. The vet bills for the rescued dog was a lot and they were asking for a five dollar donation thru PayPal. I sent them $20. People like these girls are like minor Angels in my book.
Your story about the woman who helps animals was touching. I saw on Facebook this morning about some local women who braved the rain to rescue a dog in bad shape. They work with Sashas Hope and Rescue in Jasper Alabama. The vet bills for the rescued dog was a lot and they were asking for a five dollar donation thru PayPal. I sent them $20. People like these girls are like minor Angels in my book.
Lynette wrote: "Just finished the stories and cast my votes. I also want to thank you, Christene, for hosting this month.Thank you everyone for your great stories. I love it when voting is a surmountable task.
..."
It really is pretty amazing how many of the 750 Alum have published. Sometime we should put a list together of all of our books.
Many thanks to all who have voted so far, I am now only waiting for Patricia and Terry who have until midnight today to cast their votes to be eligible
Christene wrote: "Many thanks to all who have voted so far, I am now only waiting for Patricia and Terry who have until midnight today to cast their votes to be eligible"< I SENT IT TO c/- cbrittonjones@hotmail.com and tried cbrittonjones@hotmail.com.
I want to say thanks for the encouraging comments to my contribution, I enjoyed these stories that were posted as well. I have messaged my votes too.
TERRY wrote: "Christene wrote: "Many thanks to all who have voted so far, I am now only waiting for Patricia and Terry who have until midnight today to cast their votes to be eligible""Hi Christine, I sent you an email on Monday night. Did you get it? Thanks.
Patricia I have just rechecked and no I haven't got your votes as of yet what email did you send it too
Cant seem to find a vote from Rebecca either
Hi. I just resent it using the Hotmail email address. I am so sorry for the delay. Thanks.Christene wrote: "Patricia I have just rechecked and no I haven't got your votes as of yet what email did you send it too"
Christene - please check your private messages.
I've resent (3rd time): Two times to cbrittonjones@hotmail.com.
All votes are in... Rebecca still hasn't posted her votes so I will have to accept all votes as of midnight 30th deadline now in fairness to other authors and as per this criteria...."Entries must be submitted by midnight on 04/27/2018. Voting will begin at 12:01am on 04/28/2018 and will close at midnight on 04/30/18. All times are Eastern Standard Time. Winners will be announced 05/01/2018."
Got your vote also Rebecca so finally drum roll the winners are as follows:.....................1. “Beyond the Gap” by Terry Turner
2. “Ambushed by Absence” by Andy
3. ”Watching the World Change” by Lynette
Honorable mention:
“The Strange Neighbor” by F. F. Burwick
“Ambushed by Absence” by Andy
Congrats to all the winners, the HM's and all the writers who penned a tale this month. Good work by all.
Oh wow! Thanks to everyone who voted for my story. I had a really hard time deciding. Congrats to Andy, Lynette and the Honorable mentions. I feel like I am learning from all of you. Cheers.......
Another month of great stories, all. Congratulations! Thanks for hosting Christene.
Congrats to all winners. Great stories. Onward and upward to May.
Congratulations Terry and to Lynette - and to all participants. I enjoyed taking part again.Not sure what to make of the talking parrot for next month, though ... :-)
Mod
Andy wrote: "Congratulations Terry and to Lynette - and to all participants. I enjoyed taking part again.
Not sure what to make of the talking parrot for next month, though ... :-)"
Andy, I thought the same thing but now I think I can weave it in.
Not sure what to make of the talking parrot for next month, though ... :-)"
Andy, I thought the same thing but now I think I can weave it in.
Congrats Terry! Also to Andy. Thank you all for the third place nod. Now on to the next story. Hope to see you all in the May contest.
Congratulations to the winners and all who participated. Excellent stories!
Congratulations Terry, Andy, and Lynette, and good stories all around, and thanks for honorable mentions.
Mod
This opens up all kinds of avenues for you. True story: my father owned a parrot in South Florida. He used to yell at the German shepherd, "Get out!" The parrot picked this up after a while. When my dad's ex-wife came to visit (they had one child together), the parrot yelled, "Get out! Get out! Ha, ha, ha..."
Well, that's a parrot you could use strategically with unwanted guests, Glenda!
