Story Time.

Writers: I need your help. Down below, is the beginning of a story that I started and went nowhere with. That's where you come in. Bring the story in your own direction. Write as much or as little as you want. If I like where you're going with the story, I'll add it in and give credit by putting your name below. Remember, be imaginative, be descriptive, and be creative. At this point, the story can go anywhere. Just try to keep to the story where the last person left off. Hopefully the result will be a very suspenseful story. Thanks for all the help to those of you that decide to write!

    As she kicked off her high heels, poured a glass of cheap, dry wine, and tried to exhale all the stress from her long, unfulfilling day, her thoughts began to race. Ever since Lauren's divorce just a few months ago, every minute thing in life had lost its zest. While she exhumed the week old chicken that her mother had so carefully and thoughtfully placed in the freezer for her, she thought back on what she had -done so wrong in life. Here she was: a 28 year old woman with no major commitments, no real job potential, no financial security, and on top of all that. . A failed marriage. She was living at home with her mother, and her favorite thing to do in life was to play with her cats. She had to admit- in an odd, almost sickening unnatural way, Lauren felt a certain resentment if not jealousy for her mother. The shrill noise of the microwave snapped her out of the trance she was in. Lauren had always been a dreamer. Her surreal visions seemed to get her into trouble more often than not. The aroma of overcooked chicken wafted into Lauren's nostrils. Suddenly she felt ill. With a shudder she quickly tried to gobble down her makeshift meal before her mind got the best of her. Lauren hadn't been eating well for some time now- a mixture of nerves and shear exhaustion. She quickly rinsed off her dishes from her meal and gingerly placed them into the dishwasher as her mother came home.
    "Hello mother", said Lauren with just enough sarcasm for a mother to pick up on. "How was your day?" "I see you're still upset about last night, dear?" Her mother was one of those pushy, egotistical people. She had a selfish mindset and was very self absorbed and arrogant. Just the night before, her and Lauren had gotten into a heated discussion about Lauren's lifestyle and "choices". "Nope. Not at all." Lauren tried to walk away. Go to another spot in the house where she couldn't be pestered. Her mother could not allow that. "Honey, I said I was sorry, what more do you want me to say? I just think its about time for you to start thinking about your future. You know, you're not getting any younger. The years are going to start catching up with you sooner or later." "Wow Mom, you never cease to amaze me! I'd love to know why you think you can talk to me like that." Her mother had always said hurtful things to Lauren for reasons unbeknown to her. She wasn't sure if it was to intentionally annoy her or if her mother's selfish attitude just got the best of her. Lauren walked away. She had better things to do. Laundry to wash, papers to grade. If she had the time she would clean up her room a little. This was Lauren's third year of teaching She hated it. She thought she would try to give back to others, the same thing her teacher had done for her years before. She thought teaching would be a breeze- was she ever wrong! Her teaching, her students, their conceptual thinking- or lack thereof, all became daily annoyances to Lauren. "I just don't feel like talking about it anymore. Mom." "Fine. Have it your way, Lauren. You always do." She knew if she didn't walk away right then and there it would be another fight. She rushed into her room. She would work on her homework. The laundry could wait.
    Lauren zipped through the papers. She only half-cared if the answers were right or wrong. Why, she wondered, was her life so empty? She did not miss her abusive, controlling husband. She had no real worries in life. Her mother paid most of the bills and did most of the household chores (cooking, cleaning, general upkeep.) Why was Lauren so unsatisfied? She was missing out on something. She never had a "real" family. Her father was a lot like her ex-husband- a deadbeat drunk. Maybe that's the spark she thought she saw in Chris. She was consistent about one thing in life. Being wrong.