January 6,
2007
We had a great turnout here
on Thursday, with nine of us ready to start the New Year as dedicated
writers. Well, dedicated to the New Year, anyhow.
Ellie brought chips and her
own dip, which was very tasty and we all enjoyed. Bob brought
pecan tarts to please Nathaniel, who had asked for them. Then
when Michael and Susan showed up, he had to share the extras.
Bob should start a dessert catering business.
Nathaniel started with some
show and tell. He had his great-grandfather’s diploma from Guildford’s
Institue Of Phrenology in California, 1900. He also had pictures
of his great, great, great Uncle in a Fire Brigade uniform, his chest
covered in medals.
Margaret read first, this story
in continuation of the one about the parrot. This one was in a
letter form, from Marie, the housekeeper, to Rev. Peacock, who gave
the parrot to Rev. Peabody. She reprimanded Peacock for causing
so much trauma to Peabody, who was seeing a psychiatrist to deal with
all the problems caused by the parrot who acted worse than any spoiled
child might have done.
I read the latest addition
to my novel, Ch. 32. Fiona and her son, Cam were having dinner
at her father’s home, when her brother’s fiance e tells her that
her deceased husband had cheated on her with the woman he had been trying
to save from the fire that claimed both their lives. Fiona and
Cam leave hurriedly to return home and find the love letters that had
been found in Fiona’s husband’s truck after the fire. Her
brother wanted Fiona to consider the dead woman’s husband as possible
arsonist, another suspect to the string of arson fires in the complex
where she lives and works.
Nathaniel read of Alexander
riding to Fort Douglas to warn Gov. Semple and the settlers about the
approaching Metis out to destroy them. He sees Declan and Rose,
who is heavy with child. He warns Declan to stay with Rose, but
he refuses. Later Alexander saves his life when the settlers are
outnumbered and outflanked by the Metis. Alexander is fighting
to aide the settlers, because of Rose, but Jacques Dumont (whose wife
Alexander had seduced) appears in the battle and shoots him, dead.
Fort Douglas surrenders to Cuthbert-Grant. Rose has given birth
during the battle, and now she and Declan are forced to leave the Fort.
But Cuthbert-Grant sees the defeat of the Metis in his future, as he
knows the tide of white settlers cannot be stopped.
Michael read a short story
called “Kelso”, which was written mostly in dialogue to portray
the mayhem of a family gathering where all sentences are interrupted
continuously, and yet in the end you do perceive what is happening as
the evening progresses. We see the chaos of a teenage girl’s
birthday and a family dinner happening simultaneously, and then the
sinister underside of “Kelso”, the mother’s boyfriend, who hardly
speaks at all. Very entertaining.
Ellie read the beginning of
another story where Adrena heard a strange noise in the night, and now
Perrin keeps vigil the next night, fighting sleepiness. Also keeping
vigil is Caldor, from the dome, but in secret.
Susan brought a coin to show
us, which had been minted to commemorate the Royal Nfld. Regiment in
the Battle of the Somme, in 1916. She also brought copies of the
January issue of Senior Newsmagazine. Marilyn’s article is there
on page 13.
Lynette and Jean didn’t read,
but the rest of us were happy to have them as our listeners.
In the Vancouver Sun this morning
was an invitation to submit Haiku for the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival,
if anyone is interested, one submission per person, winning entry to
be written in stone at the foot of a cherry tree at the Burrard Street
Skytrain station. I sent my entry in today. For anyone interested,
go to www.vancouvercherryblossomfesti
Had a letter from John Ireland,
which I will read at our next meeting, here at my place Thursday, January
11th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then. May The
Muse inspire you in the meantime.
Lisa