Today’s #CleanWIP theme and collaborative article is Order. [More info]
Photo by Coco Parisienne
~ Jessica Marie Holt ~
“You should have shot him,” said Henry. “That dog’s a menace. I ran at him with a pitchfork the other day, and he lunged at me like he wasn’t even scared. Once I whacked him with it he knew I meant business, and he ran off.”
“I told Frank if he didn’t get him under control, I’d end up shooting him eventually.”
“Why does Frank even keep a dog like that?” asked Henry.
“Vernon Peedin got him for protection when the Willis brothers threatened to burn his house down, with him in it, after he testified against them in court. Vernon kept the thing on a good solid chain, and he always took proper care of his fences. And, the dog obeyed him. But you know Frank. He’s lazy and careless. He don’t even look after his mama, let alone keep his dog secure.”
Henry shook his head. “Some folks just don’t have any sense of decency.”
“Too true,” said Jim. He turned to Louis. “So, your first order of business is going to be filling in the hole that hell hound made, and making sure the coop is secure.”
Use #CleanWIP with on-theme lines from a work-in-progress and your tweet might be included in a https://t.co/yUHUbxZp23 collaboration for authors who lean clean and readers who love them. The #CleanWIP theme for Tuesday, March 10 is ORDER. pic.twitter.com/dhkyEIWjBa
— CleanWIP Magazine (@cleanwip) March 10, 2020
Aya paused as she closed her eyes and tried to order her scrambled thoughts.
— M. B. Aznoe (@mbaznoe) March 10, 2020
“Speaking of wayward husbands, there they are,” Yepal’s voice cut in, causing Aya to open her eyes. #cleanwip #wip #amwritingfantasy
#CleanWIP HALF-PRICE BRIDE: “It’s a marriage proposal,” Emily replied.
— Laurean Brooks (@Laurean2) March 10, 2020
Roy gasped. “What in the world…?”
“From a dentist. I answered a mail-order bride ad. She passed the letter to her brother.
Louise threw up her hands. “Mail-order? In all my born days! I don’t believe it.”
He made his way over to one of the tables and sat down, staring tiredly at the worn keys of the typewriter in front of him. This was the table he frequented the most, because it was only one that didn’t force him to socialize in order to use it.#CleanWIP
— Katelyn Buxton (@KBuxtonBooks) March 10, 2020
Theme: Order
~ Scott R. Rezer ~
From my current WIP, The Haberdasher’s Wife…
“Herr Trinkaus,” she said, removing the hood of her cloak and gloves. “A joyous New Year to you.”
He rubbed his meaty hands together and winked at her. “And to you as well, fräulein. Might I interest you in some chocolates, today?”
It was a familiar game. One she often lost. “Not today,” she said, laughing, though she loved the rich chocolates that had made Herr Trinkaus the talk of the city. “Perhaps just a strudel for my mother and me.”
He touched a finger to his lips, smiling. “I have some that just came out of the oven.”
He led her to the counter, where she waited, glancing over the assorted baked goods in the display case while he assembled her order. A few moments later, he returned. The divine scent of the warm cinnamon and sugar wafted up from the package as he fastened it with a length of twine. He leaned over the wooden counter, pretending to brush off some imaginary crumbs with a cloth. “I included a few krapfen for you and your mother. A treat for New Year’s.”
Josefa giggled like a schoolgirl. “You will make us both very fat with your generosity, Herr Trinkaus, if you insist on adding treats to my order every time I come in here.”
“Indulge me, fräulein, and consider it favor to an old man,” he said, winking. “I have little to delight in beyond seeing the joy it brings you.”
“Very well,” she said, “but I insist on paying for it mind you.”
He held up a hand and shook his head. “Then you will simply force me to add a few more.” It, too, was another game they played together. He never let her pay for more than she ordered. He had never had a daughter and found it a joy to spoil her.
Four months marched by like Staver’s army drills. Though the months were not as #orderly. The riotous noise of spring birds gave way to the lazy heat of summer. Now the nights cooled again and trees donned colors bright enough to shame the summer flowers. #cleanWIP #vss365
— ML Farb (@FarbMl) March 12, 2020
Levi began shooting wildly. He was pleased to see at least two goons go down. But some goons instinctively began firing back, in spite of Jonas’s sharp orders to stop.
— Jessica Marie Holt — Author (@Jessica06311722) March 10, 2020
Time to jump. Levi leaped off the pier. As he was in midair, a bullet caught him in the back. #CleanWIP