Building a Great Magic - The Gathering Deck

For a true enthusiast, there's nothing like the thrill of opening a new Magic: The Gathering booster pack. The smell of the cards, the slick feel of mint-condition cards, the suspense of seeing what cards you get all can be quite a heady experience. But inevitably you realize that buying booster packs is a poor way to get the killer deck you've been dreaming of--or worse yet, been getting slaughtered by at tournaments.
Your funds are limited. There's got to be a better way.
There is. Let's look at a few.
Plan Your Deck - This seems obvious, but it really helps. It can be easy to get distracted by all the different cards that come out in the various editions and trying to collect them all. Unless you're a serious collector, don't bother. Take time to learn which cards work well together and support your style of play. Sketch out a list of cards you need to complete the deck you'd like to play
Once you know what cards you are looking for, there are many ways to find them.
Trading - One of the easiest ways to build your deck is to find friends who also play the game. This works especially well if you each have deck ideas that don't overlap. You may be able to trade some of your less-needed cards for some of theirs that fit your plan.
Buying Bulk - Some card stores will give discounts when you buy boxes of booster packs or large orders. If you really, really enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" in opening lots and lots of packs and relying on luck, then by all means, go for it. I've done it before, and it can be almost better than Christmas! This can be especially effective if you need a lot of cards from a specific set and are just getting started collecting them. Still, you can buy twice as many packs as there are rare cards in an expansion and still not get a full set. And if it's a specific card you're looking for it can ultimately be a real letdown.
Find it on eBay - Online auctions can be a great way to find individual cards to complete your deck. Just be careful. Bidding wars can be addictive, and before you know it you've overpaid for your card. It's not important to win at all cost. In fact sometimes you can get a bargain by being patient. Do your homework so you know how much the card is worth, and don't bid more than that. Also, take time to check out the seller's feedback before you bid. Some may misrepresent their merchandise or worse. Also, make sure they aren't selling their cards for cheap only to make it up on shipping and handling charges.
Find a Player Community - Some Magic player forums, such as MTG Salvation.com allow trades and sales on their site. Same rules apply as on eBay: do your homework.
Buy From an Online Store - Connecting Magic players with the cards they want has become a big business. There are many online stores that can help you find the cards you want quickly. There are even sites like FindMagicCards.com that can give you pricing histories for certain cards and a list of sellers and their prices.
There are two ways to approach shopping from online stores. The first is to find the lowest price you can, and sites like FindMagicCards.com can help with that. Just be aware that for each purchase you make you can expect to pay shipping and handling costs. Buying individual cards from numerous places may ultimately cost you more than you save by shopping around. Still, if you just need one or two cards, especially rare ones, you can save money this way.
The other way is to find a single, reputable dealer you trust and buy from them. This can drive your shipping and handling costs down significantly, even if your per-card costs are not always lower. It also can save you a lot of time. Stores are often better on customer service than individuals if something is wrong with your order.
Building your deck can be challenging, but it can also be as much fun as playing it if you know how to go about it.

Article written by Thom Stratton

How to Avoid the 'Fatal Coincidence' When Writing a Screenplay

There are a large number of pitfalls you can make as a screenwriter, but few are as glaring and as easy to avoid as the: 'Fatal Coincidence'. I'm not talking about the coincidences that often start a story, like Jason Bourne being found afloat by the fishing vessel at the beginning of the Bourne Identity. After all, if Mr. Bourne hadn't been picked up, there would not have been a story to tell. I'm talking about the ones where you find yourself saying - That's too improbable to happen! You've seen them at the movies or on DVD, unfortunately too many times. People showing up just at the right time, overhearing something just at the right time, or finding a miraculous clue, just at the right time. Some screenplays hide their coincidences and blend them into the story narrative so seamlessly you don't even notice. Here's one that does it really well (Spoiler alert):
In Scott Beattie's screenplay, Derailed, Charles meets his lawyer just before they go to the police to report that he is being blackmailed over his infidelity with Lucinda. But, first Charles decides he must tell Lucinda. Nice guy. Charles goes to the only places he knows where he can find her:
· At Lucinda's office, Charles is told by the receptionist that she is not there. Coincidentally, Lucinda is just walking out of the building. The problem for Charles is that, this Lucinda is not his lover. (So, who is she?).
· Charles then goes to what he thinks is Lucinda's apartment. But, a real estate agent there the apartment was rented to Lucinda and her boyfriend. (What's going on?).
· Finally, Charles desperately looks in another place he knows - the train station where Charles and Lucinda got off the train after they first met.
There, Charles finds Lucinda kissing the guy is man blackmailing Charles! This sequence constitutes an ideal end to Act II and provides the so-called 'Second Commitment to Act' or 'Plot Point B' in the Three Act Structure Model, and starts the 'Road Back' point in the Hero's Journey model.
Let's face it, the chance that Charles would arrive just at the right time to see this event is improbable, but the impact of the plot point revelation dampens our skepticism. We're ready to enter Act III and watch Charles get his revenge. This is the quality that screenwriter Beattie also incorporated into the plot of Collateral.
In contrast, here's a screenplay that isn't so seamless. In Patriot Games, Jack Ryan, now retired from the CIA, is on a working-vacation in London with his family. Just as Ryan sees his wife and daughter across the street, the IRA attack Lord William Holmes, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, right in front of him! Later, when an IRA assassin tries to kill Ryan outside the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, Ryan just happens to get a glimpse of the same woman driving away in a Jeep as drove the getaway car after the attack in London. To cap the coincidences off, Ryan's memory of the woman is jogged when he just happens to accidentally go into the woman's restroom instead of the men's, and notice a woman with similar hair to the woman in the two vehicles.
So, how do you avoid 'Fatal Coincidences'?
· Find where they occur in your screenplay by asking yourself: 'Does this really stand a chance of happening?' If a coincidence makes things too easy for the protagonist, then your audience will likely not accept it.
· Give characters a specific reason for being in the location for the coincidence to occur. Note in Derailedhow Charles had a specific reason and rationale to be at the station (to look for Lucinda at a place he knows she visits) whereas as Ryan was there purely by coincidence.
· Have the character work to be in the situation for the coincidence to occur. The event seems more like preparedness simply meeting opportunity - it had to happen sooner or later. In Derailed, if seems like if Charles looks in enough places, he will eventually run into Lucinda.
· Foreshadow coincidences. Charles had already gone to two already familiar locations and received information that told him something was suspicious about Lucinda's story of who she was. By the third location, we were expecting to see something that answered what Lucinda was up to - and there is was! Make the coincidence seem inevitable.
· Have the coincidence explain something so large that the meaning of the coincidence overshadows the event itself.
Fatal Coincidences really reflect laziness and lack of creativity on behalf of the screenwriter. When you submit your screenplay to an agent or studies, Fatal Coincidences will do exactly that to your script. Avoid them!

Article written by Melvyn Heyes

Famous People

Generally speaking, a superstar is someone who seeks media attention and the largest part recurrently has an vociferous personality. The want to be notable is obscure by more or less to be a part of Western culture and more specifically the American Dream as a quantity of accomplishment. A superstar with the aim of shys away from the freely available eye or keeps a very separate secretive life is called a reluctant superstar. At the other put an end to of the spectrum, a superstar with the aim of seeks unfashionable publicity instead of him- or herself is often called a media tart, but lone with the aim of uses his or her secretive life as a vehicle instead of enhanced superstar status, now and again desperately, is referred to as a media whore. Examples of this are fake or deliberate relationships, truth television appearances, superstar nudity and in extreme hand baggage, scandal or superstar sexual characteristics tapes.
There are a broad range of ways make somewhere your home can turn into celebrities, from their profession, appearances in the throng media, beauty or even by complete accident or notoriety. Instant superstar is the name with the aim of is used as someone becomes a superstar in very curt era of phase.
Indoors more or less seats, someone with the aim of one way or another achieves a small amount of transient fame through propaganda or throng media, is stereotyped as a B-grade superstar. Often the stereotype extends to someone with the aim of cascade curt of mainstream or persistent fame but seeks to reach or exploit it.
Indoors the 20th Century, the avid freely available lure instead of celebrities and hunger instead of superstar gossip has seen the arise of the gossip correspondent, tabloid, paparazzi and superstar blogging.
Just as lone possibly will turn into a regional or cultural superstar, lone possibly will additionally turn into a superstar in their niche marketplace and hold partial fame apart from it. Stan Lee (best notorious as co-creator of the classic Marvel superheroes) is mostly notorious to comic volume fans and while in latest years, he has turn into more well notorious, many outside fandom are still unsure of exactly who he is, other than being a voice.
One possibly will argue with the aim of all celebrities are niche marketplace celebrities, more or less niches are simply much better than others and many celebrities win fame apart from their niche marketplace as well. A first-rate model can be seen surrounded by the numerous specialized athletes with the aim of are well notorious even surrounded by make somewhere your home who organize not get the gist sports.
Gossip Juice it's your daily source for celebrity gossip.

Article written by John Will Smith

Collage Art and Punk - The Scalpel and the Safety Pin

Collage art has popularly been associated with punk, since Jamie Reid tore out the eyes section of a picture of the Queen and gave her image some quick body piercing with some safety pins, two icons come together. It is the bringing together the radically disparate that has always been a hallmark of most collage art, from the early Berlin Dada experiments, and Max Ernst's proto-surrealist offerings, to the mediums re-emergence in the mid seventies with a largely musical movement that was just as incongruous at times, and every bit as savage as the knives of the mediums two great innovators, John Heartfield, and Hannah Hoch. Indeed, punk was thought of by some of the art students who participaed in its early form as the new dada.
But collage art, or montage art, whichever you wish to call it, has really been associated with punk by one band in particular, the Dead Kennedys. Their association with artwork didn't just end at the cover, bring home one of their records, and out would fall a booklet of artwork with masterpieces, just as cutting and savage and satirical as the lyrics they illustrated, courtesy of a partnership with collage masetro, Winston Smith, and the Kennedys' then singer, and leader, Jello Biafra.
Collage art suits the needs of some of the more political punk bands out there, and so it should. Be used more often for these purposes, punk needs to get out out of its narrow band of being purely a musical movement, it was started by artists, they should regain their place.

Article written by Jonathon Baker
Jonathon BakerLevel: BasicJonathon Baker is a Collage and Montage artist with many collaborations with magazines, bands and books to his name, he is also his own webmaster, ... ...
Jonathon Baker

Read All About It - 21st Century Book Clubs

As the emergence of the Kindle and other portable e-books really begin to scare the humble paperback, and whilst more publishing houses fall to the popularity of digital media, it is a wonder that book clubs (or book discussion clubs, as they are known in the US) still exist. But they do. In fact, the 21st Century and the progression of internet technologies seem to have been very good for this wholesome tradition.
Of course, the Kindle doesn't look at all likely to have any adverse effects on book clubs. On the contrary, it could be set to enrich them even further by making obscure and expensive texts more easily available. This is a plus-side that echoes the, rarely-discussed, advantages that the internet has had in regards to the consumption of literature. Aside from online shops such as Amazon and eBay, user-generated sites offering book reviews help readers make a more informed decision after just a few clicks.
Traditionally book clubs were quite simple affairs. Usually set-up by a zealous gaggle of fiction enthusiasts, they are typically held in private homes (sometimes rotating between members), at libraries, or in other community meeting places such as pubs and town halls. Aside from deciding where and when to meet, one of the only other variable to consider was whether the club would be a single-title club or a multi-title club - with the former meaning that all members read the same book before each meet-up, and the latter meaning members discuss their own current reads.
As it has done for communities in general, the internet has rejuvenated book discussion environments and has reinvented the way book-lovers can find, and interact with, other like-minded litera-maniacs. Thanks to the web, geography is now no object for book clubs. They can be conducted in a synchronous or asynchronous manner online, offline or a combination of both.
Yet, even for those who are eager to establish a traditional 'tea and biscuits' type club, having a website or blog is fast becoming considered a book club essential. This way all members can log on at anytime to see updates, be reminded of what to be reading, and see what has been read in the past etc. But for those who are eager to embrace the future shape of book clubs, social media such as Facebook groups and more recently, Twitter, have changed things even more - the latter giving users the ability to offer opinions on their reads whenever they want to, and to engage in conversation with other readers whenever they like.

Article written by T Roberts

The Mystery of Stone Ship ((in English and Spanish)(from the Satipo Jungles, Peru))

(A Legend out of the Jungles of Satipo)
English Version
(Advance) It's a very old rock structure, brown, with a sandy like texture to it, about the size of a 17th Century Ship, it resides in the middle of the Perene Rio, in the Central Jungles of Peru, called Satipo. Deep within the jungle nearby this rock structure, lived a tribe of natives, the 'Ashaninka,' derived from the earlier natives called the 'Arawak' ...I have visited an Ashaninka tribe myself; they are a warm hearted peaceful people, very creative in the arts. And so now for the Legend...:
Throughout the bloody and frightfully sixteen-hundreds, the so called Colonists (Colonos), with their slave ships, sought out the Ashaninka natives, for slaves, sold them to the highest bidder, in the Lima, and Huancayo markets, and in other parts of Peru, along with other cities of South America. The Colonists jammed an absolutely peaceful people into the guts of the ship; it was absolutely body to body. The officers were very cold and dehumanizing. The aftermath of these years took a toll; the Colonists had rapped the land like fire in dry grass-of its masses, putting them into slavery. These natives: insulted, frightened, none of them to return to their tribes. And the Colonists kept their recurrent surge up, keeping the slave-flesh, in the hole of the ship, with stale, deadly breath and putrid surroundings, many died on the journey to the markets, thrown over the stern of the ship for the fish and vultures to eat, once dead.
On a given day, something took place, that would mold into a legend, something, every Colonist would ponder on thereafter, and ship captains would forever take into account, when they'd sailed down the Rio Perene by what would be named-forevermore the 'The Rock of Stone Ship.'
It was an atrociously hot day. The rain had stopped; the captain had anchored his ship in the middle of the river, scouts lowered a small vessel into the waters, turned the boat towards an orchard like opening of the jungle, they were to search for tribal members, and return to the ship with the information, where they were now, how many of them were useful as slaves. In the meantime the Captain and his crew remained waiting onboard.
In those days, the chief of the Ashaninka kept a look out for the ships. They knew what the Colonists were contemplating, and of course the ship was taller than anything in sight and filled a good portion of the center of the river, and it was of course a symbolical threat once seen. And on this hot summer's day, it was seen by the chief, and his bodyguards.
The path the chief and his bodyguards were on came out on to the top of a hill; there they prayed that none of their kind would be kidnapped into slavery this day.
The scouts from the ship looked about spent quite a lot of their time trying to find stragglers, or the tribe itself, but they saw nothing, nothing but massive trees which shaded them from the hot sun, and would condemn them as they rested and fell to sleep, and when they awoke and went back to inform their captain of their fruitless search, they noticed suddenly the ship was gone. Refusing to believe the ship and its crew, and its captain could have left so anonymously, they moved about, but the only thing they found was a rock island mound in the middle of the river, that wasn't there before, it resided where the ship had been anchored.
It was a brown structure, likened to the ship itself in design and some details, as if it was melted down from wood to soft stone, somewhat circular dimensions, the rock island being the same size of the ship, which was now covered with large ants, running about.
The Chief, now looking down from the top of the hill, could see the newly formed mound, and the three scouts standing on it, in disarray, he said nothing, just bowed his head.

Article written by Dennis Siluk Ed.D.

The Atlas Shrugged Movie - Galt's Curse

Will the Atlas Shrugged movie ever get made? That's the question people have been asking for years. But there seems to be a curse, which is supremely ironic for a work that presents the atheistic philosophy, Objectivism.

There's certainly no lack of interest in an Atlas Shrugged movie, especially during these times of looming recession and increasing government takeover of the economy. Sales of this 1957 book started jumping off the shelves in 2008, landing it on bestseller lists ever since.

Images of Tea Party small-government low-tax demonstrations, which started at the beginning of 2009, always display signs with pictures of Ayn Rand (the author) and her famous catchphrase, "Who is John Galt?". So why not make the movie?

John Galt must have cast a curse. He's the book's hero. His main action was to convince the country's best minds to go on strike. From the looks of things, that included Hollywood. His curse is where fiction encounters reality and nothing gets done.

Albert S. Ruddy was twice cursed. He got the first dibs on the screen rights in 1972. Rand even announced the deal back then and she was excited due to Ruddy's success with The Godfather. But she wanted final script approval, which meant she could refuse to allow the film to be released if she didn't like it. That is one Atlas Shrugged movie that didn't happen. More recently, in 1999, Ruddy brokered a four-hour TV miniseries project with Turner Network Television. Then the merger between AOL and Time-Warner killed it.

This wasn't the first TV production to succumb to Galt's Curse, either. Henry and Michael Jaffe put together a deal with NBC in 1978 for an eight-hour Atlas Shrugged miniseries. In 1979, Fred Silverman became president of NBC and one of the first things he did was cancel it. Probably the worst victim of Galt's Curse was Rand herself. She decided to write her own TV miniseries, but she died in 1982 when it was only about one-third finished.

Her heir is her former student, Leonard Peikoff. He sold the Atlas Shrugged movie option to Michael Jaffe and Ed Snider right after she died, but he retained script approval, or script disapproval as it turned out.

Then in 1992, an investor and high-profile poker player, John Aglialoro got the film rights for a cool million. He tried for years to get Peikoff's script approval, but one after another kept being rejected. As it stands, if production does not start by the end of 2010, the Atlas Shrugged movie rights will revert to Peikoff.

Aglialoro, thankfully, now has negotiated full creative control. After the Ruddy and Turner deal fell apart, Howard and Karen Baldwin hooked up with him while at Crusader Entertainment. Crusader fell to Galt's Curse and the Baldwins set up their own shop with Aglialoro in tow.

They recently had a deal with Lionsgate. Angelina Jolie was to be the heroine Dagny Taggart, the free-market individualist railroad executive. But Jolie walked and joined Galt's list of other actresses who wanted to play Dagny like Barbara Stanwyck, Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welch, Farrah Fawcett and Sharon Stone, with Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway waiting in line.

The Baldwins are still hooked with Lionsgate. Heavy-hitting Relativity Media has been circling to jump on board. Randall Wallace, whose credits include Braveheart, Pearl Harbor and other blockbusters, wrote the best screenplay adaptation to date and he's still with them.

So... Can poker-player Aglialoro beat the odds by the end of 2010? What, ultimately, will succumb to Galt's Curse? Will it be the Atlas Shrugged movie for once and for all? The country? The whole world? The curse itself?

Article written by Michael Stuart Kelly

Handcrafted Artworks - History in the Making

Every artisan who is inspired to create a handcrafted piece of art injects a certain amount of history in every work. Something in his past, a lasting impression, or event left a mark upon his spirit.

It could have been a vivid sunset, the spray of a waterfall casting a rainbow, or an eerie greenish glow in the sky from an approaching hailstorm. Whatever the case, the reason for his choice of color or texture came from within.

His past experiences in life have fashioned his perceptions. The vision from which he draws on these inspirations was shaped in part by things he has seen or felt. Even before language was invented, cavemen were painting and carving on walls depictions of past hunts, or pictures of things that had taken place in their lives.

Did they do this simply to "mark" the history of the occurrence, or was there more to it than this? Man is born with an inner desire to leave something to have others remember him by, after he has left this world.
There is something very personal in handcrafted artwork. Something that says "I was here," I am unique, so I will leave this, for it will be identified with me.

The dazzling array of colors, textures, and beauty seen throughout the world in all of God's creation has captured the minds of men unto its splendors. Years ago, those who lived close enough to where they worked to go and visit them could only see the works of master-craftsmen. To buy one of these works meant a trip.

The advent of the Internet has changed that. Today it is possible to view not only one artisans work online, but multiple artists' collections through online galleries.

Article written by Stephen Monday

Building a Great Magic - The Gathering Deck

For a true enthusiast, there's nothing like the thrill of opening a new Magic: The Gathering booster pack. The smell of the cards, the slick feel of mint-condition cards, the suspense of seeing what cards you get all can be quite a heady experience. But inevitably you realize that buying booster packs is a poor way to get the killer deck you've been dreaming of--or worse yet, been getting slaughtered by at tournaments.
Your funds are limited. There's got to be a better way.
There is. Let's look at a few.
Plan Your Deck - This seems obvious, but it really helps. It can be easy to get distracted by all the different cards that come out in the various editions and trying to collect them all. Unless you're a serious collector, don't bother. Take time to learn which cards work well together and support your style of play. Sketch out a list of cards you need to complete the deck you'd like to play
Once you know what cards you are looking for, there are many ways to find them.
Trading - One of the easiest ways to build your deck is to find friends who also play the game. This works especially well if you each have deck ideas that don't overlap. You may be able to trade some of your less-needed cards for some of theirs that fit your plan.
Buying Bulk - Some card stores will give discounts when you buy boxes of booster packs or large orders. If you really, really enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" in opening lots and lots of packs and relying on luck, then by all means, go for it. I've done it before, and it can be almost better than Christmas! This can be especially effective if you need a lot of cards from a specific set and are just getting started collecting them. Still, you can buy twice as many packs as there are rare cards in an expansion and still not get a full set. And if it's a specific card you're looking for it can ultimately be a real letdown.
Find it on eBay - Online auctions can be a great way to find individual cards to complete your deck. Just be careful. Bidding wars can be addictive, and before you know it you've overpaid for your card. It's not important to win at all cost. In fact sometimes you can get a bargain by being patient. Do your homework so you know how much the card is worth, and don't bid more than that. Also, take time to check out the seller's feedback before you bid. Some may misrepresent their merchandise or worse. Also, make sure they aren't selling their cards for cheap only to make it up on shipping and handling charges.
Find a Player Community - Some Magic player forums, such as MTG Salvation.com allow trades and sales on their site. Same rules apply as on eBay: do your homework.
Buy From an Online Store - Connecting Magic players with the cards they want has become a big business. There are many online stores that can help you find the cards you want quickly. There are even sites like FindMagicCards.com that can give you pricing histories for certain cards and a list of sellers and their prices.
There are two ways to approach shopping from online stores. The first is to find the lowest price you can, and sites like FindMagicCards.com can help with that. Just be aware that for each purchase you make you can expect to pay shipping and handling costs. Buying individual cards from numerous places may ultimately cost you more than you save by shopping around. Still, if you just need one or two cards, especially rare ones, you can save money this way.
The other way is to find a single, reputable dealer you trust and buy from them. This can drive your shipping and handling costs down significantly, even if your per-card costs are not always lower. It also can save you a lot of time. Stores are often better on customer service than individuals if something is wrong with your order.
Building your deck can be challenging, but it can also be as much fun as playing it if you know how to go about it.

Article written by Thom Stratton

How to Avoid the 'Fatal Coincidence' When Writing a Screenplay

There are a large number of pitfalls you can make as a screenwriter, but few are as glaring and as easy to avoid as the: 'Fatal Coincidence'. I'm not talking about the coincidences that often start a story, like Jason Bourne being found afloat by the fishing vessel at the beginning of the Bourne Identity. After all, if Mr. Bourne hadn't been picked up, there would not have been a story to tell. I'm talking about the ones where you find yourself saying - That's too improbable to happen! You've seen them at the movies or on DVD, unfortunately too many times. People showing up just at the right time, overhearing something just at the right time, or finding a miraculous clue, just at the right time. Some screenplays hide their coincidences and blend them into the story narrative so seamlessly you don't even notice. Here's one that does it really well (Spoiler alert):
In Scott Beattie's screenplay, Derailed, Charles meets his lawyer just before they go to the police to report that he is being blackmailed over his infidelity with Lucinda. But, first Charles decides he must tell Lucinda. Nice guy. Charles goes to the only places he knows where he can find her:
· At Lucinda's office, Charles is told by the receptionist that she is not there. Coincidentally, Lucinda is just walking out of the building. The problem for Charles is that, this Lucinda is not his lover. (So, who is she?).
· Charles then goes to what he thinks is Lucinda's apartment. But, a real estate agent there the apartment was rented to Lucinda and her boyfriend. (What's going on?).
· Finally, Charles desperately looks in another place he knows - the train station where Charles and Lucinda got off the train after they first met.
There, Charles finds Lucinda kissing the guy is man blackmailing Charles! This sequence constitutes an ideal end to Act II and provides the so-called 'Second Commitment to Act' or 'Plot Point B' in the Three Act Structure Model, and starts the 'Road Back' point in the Hero's Journey model.
Let's face it, the chance that Charles would arrive just at the right time to see this event is improbable, but the impact of the plot point revelation dampens our skepticism. We're ready to enter Act III and watch Charles get his revenge. This is the quality that screenwriter Beattie also incorporated into the plot of Collateral.
In contrast, here's a screenplay that isn't so seamless. In Patriot Games, Jack Ryan, now retired from the CIA, is on a working-vacation in London with his family. Just as Ryan sees his wife and daughter across the street, the IRA attack Lord William Holmes, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, right in front of him! Later, when an IRA assassin tries to kill Ryan outside the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, Ryan just happens to get a glimpse of the same woman driving away in a Jeep as drove the getaway car after the attack in London. To cap the coincidences off, Ryan's memory of the woman is jogged when he just happens to accidentally go into the woman's restroom instead of the men's, and notice a woman with similar hair to the woman in the two vehicles.
So, how do you avoid 'Fatal Coincidences'?
· Find where they occur in your screenplay by asking yourself: 'Does this really stand a chance of happening?' If a coincidence makes things too easy for the protagonist, then your audience will likely not accept it.
· Give characters a specific reason for being in the location for the coincidence to occur. Note in Derailedhow Charles had a specific reason and rationale to be at the station (to look for Lucinda at a place he knows she visits) whereas as Ryan was there purely by coincidence.
· Have the character work to be in the situation for the coincidence to occur. The event seems more like preparedness simply meeting opportunity - it had to happen sooner or later. In Derailed, if seems like if Charles looks in enough places, he will eventually run into Lucinda.
· Foreshadow coincidences. Charles had already gone to two already familiar locations and received information that told him something was suspicious about Lucinda's story of who she was. By the third location, we were expecting to see something that answered what Lucinda was up to - and there is was! Make the coincidence seem inevitable.
· Have the coincidence explain something so large that the meaning of the coincidence overshadows the event itself.
Fatal Coincidences really reflect laziness and lack of creativity on behalf of the screenwriter. When you submit your screenplay to an agent or studies, Fatal Coincidences will do exactly that to your script. Avoid them!

Article written by Melvyn Heyes

The "Three P" Method of Entertainment

For a friend's 40th birthday his wife threw the Bash of a lifetime. Eddie has been a KISS fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper. His loving spouse found a KISS tribute band and booked them to play the common space on the first floor of the beach-side condo they share. The space was two enormous rooms, and in one the band set up, and in the other was a cornucopia of food offerings.

I arrived early to help her set up the room. Every kind of KISS paraphernalia from concert one-sheets to dolls and limited collectors items filled every possible space. As we worked to ready the one room the band worked in the other to ready their equipment. They checked their play list, went over sound checks, and played several songs. From the other room they sounded awesome. I went over to watch and saw the band in ordinary street clothes working through their sound check. They were thorough, though, and took great effort to make certain nothing was left to chance on the technical side of things.

That night when Storme went upstairs to get Eddie (under the guise of going to a wedding), the tribute band finished last looks before making their appearance.

Eddie appeared to thunderous applause with a very surprised look on his face. As soon as the camera flashes subsided the band appeared. Already surprised by the party he was completely floored by the band.

We all were. Myself especially. The transformation was incredible. These guys looked like KISS. They sounded like KISS. They had the mannerisms and affectations down. We were watching Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss make their magic.

Between their two sets they made themselves available for photographs, autographs, and being present to add to an already electric atmosphere. Gene Simmons stepped outside to do some fire eating which had people eating out of his hands. And after their break they played their second set.

The band is called DESTROYER. I believe they are based out of South Florida and they are absolutely dynamite all the way around.

The reason I mention this experience is they epitomized certain critical aspects of entertainment, aspects that are easily transferred to almost any other business model in the world.

Their focus on Preparation, Presentation, and Professionalism showed a consummate sense of effort to their final product.

Preparation: they came in with their equipment and went to work immediately on identifying the show/concert space and the logistics of their performance. They set up their equipment and made several adjustments as they worked alongside their technical crew. They checked their instruments and gear, speakers and mics and made sure there were no surprises. They played several songs to make sure sounds were crisp and feedback issues would be minimized.

Presentation: They made their appearance striding into the room as if they owned the place. They picked up their guitars and drumsticks and began to play. And they had everyone entranced. Eddie's mouth was open for the first ten minutes as he watched like a kid locked inside a candy store with his favorite chocolate. The band members acknowledged Eddie several times, and got the audience involved as well. They had taken great care in their costumes, make-up, and musical ability to present something that was a turn-key package. Each member of the band had taken the time to study and understand the person whose work they were recreating. It was truly a visual feast.

Professionalism: The members of the band behaved like veteran performers who understood their obligations to themselves and others. Like a well-oiled machine, they knew what needed to happen, and when it needed to happen. Their timing was impeccable. They were KISS, and left little doubt to the others who gathered to watch.

The lessons here are simple:

Whether one is preparing for an audition, a table read, or the first day on a set, whether a supernumerary or a principal player, the necessary demands on self should be the same. Be prepared, be ready to present what you are arriving to present, do your research, and be totally professional with your finished product.

These apply to anyone, anywhere. These can be applied to our personal as well as professional lives. It requires time and effort, but the end result is worth it when we realize our goals.

It's simple: We stand to benefit greatly when we are willing to give more than those around us expect. Do the absolute best. Be willing to listen and learn. This applies across the board and is good to remember as we find our way down life's river and encounter others doing the same.

Article written by Ronald Fox

New in Town? Find a Book Club - Then Join a Book Club

You've just moved in, unpacked the boxes, and put everything neatly away (or maybe not). Everything's new and unfamiliar-the house, stores, school, work...everything. You've left your old friends behind but haven't made new ones yet. In a word: you're lonely. Realistically, you know it can take months to begin to feel like this is "home," but in the meantime... what can you do?

Why not join a book club? There are few better places to meet new people than a book discussion group. Book clubs offer an intimate environment where friendships develop and flourish. You'll find fellow travelers-like-minded people who love to read and discuss books.

The terrific thing about book clubs is that you don't have to struggle to start up a conversation with strangers: book club members have built in conversation starters-their books! If you tend to be on the shy side, no one will push you to talk-others are plenty happy to do so on your behalf. And if you're gregarious, then there's plenty to talk about-wonderful, meaty conversations about a subject everyone in the room has in common: the book.

The problem is, of course, finding an existing book club-one willing to take in newcomers-and that's not always easy. Many clubs meet in private homes. You need an established network of friends to find one-and since you're new in town, that's exactly what you don't have!

So where do you go, how do you even begin to search? Below are five good places to start looking. Try any one-or all-of these ideas, and chances are you'll find a club.

Public libraries are the first place to start. They're huge sponsors of local book discussion groups. Many sponsor one, two or more groups to accommodate different schedules-clubs that meet midmornings, during lunch hours, evenings, on weekdays or weekends. Some even offer "specialty" book groups according to reading genre: mystery, romance, biography, history, mystery or sci-fi book clubs. Library sponsored groups are open to all comers.

Local Y's are another place to check. Many have book clubs, although you may need to pony up a membership fee and join the Y before you can join a group.

Bookstores love book clubs, for obvious reasons. Small independent stores or large chains often sponsor their own book clubs...or advise them when new books come on the market. Either way, bookstores frequently keep lists and may be able to put you in touch with a book group.

Churches frequently have book clubs. If you already attend one, great! Check it out. But even if you're not a churchgoer, or you belong to a different denomination, it may not be a problem: not all church book groups require affiliation. Some church groups read books of a religious nature; others read widely on any subject. It's worth checking into.

Newcomers Club is national organization with chapters in hundreds of cities and small towns. They're a great way for new residents to make friends, and many chapters sponsor book clubs as one of their monthly activities. Check the organization's online directory to see if there's one near you-and give them a call. Even if the group in your area doesn't have a book club, you have a ready-made group of newcomers to start one.

Finally, of course, draw on the knowledge of your new acquaintances. Just ask around-neighbors, colleagues at work, parents of your children's friends, and even their teachers (teachers are big book clubbers). What you'll find, most likely, are small, private clubs that meet in homes-groups that require an invitation to join...and invitations depend on whether the group wants to add new members or not. Still, get your name out there-and let whatever groups you find out about know that you're ready, willing, and available.

If you don't find a book group right away, stick with it. Try not to get discouraged. It may take a little while, but think of this: no one knows precisely, but estimates put the number of book club members in the U.S. somewhere around 10 million-which means you can't throw a stick without your Golden...or a book club member-somewhere-catching it.

Article written by M Lundquist

10 Generic Book Club Questions to Jump Start Your Discussion

You've been all over the web. You've searched every book club site you can think of, but you can't find a reading guide with discussion questions. Not a good sign-especially because it's your turn to lead the book club discussion. So now what do you do?

First thing-don't panic. Second-keep in mind that book club reading guides are fairly new to the trade: publishers began issuing them with any regularity about 10 years ago, maybe less. So B.G. (before guides), book clubs actually had to figure out how to lead their own discussions. Yikes.

But even if you can't find a specific reading guide for your title, things still aren't as stringent as they were back then. Now you can find Generic Book Club Questions-like the set listed below. These 10 questions are designed for any novel and will generate rich, lively book club discussions.


How did you experience the book? It's not always helpful to talk about whether or not you liked the book, but rather how you felt as you were reading it? Were you pulled effortlessly into the book...or did you have difficulty getting into it? Why? Did you find yourself amused, intrigued, enthralled, disturbed, fearful, irritated, angered, or impatient?
Are the characters convincing-do they come across as believable human beings with underlying motivations? Are they fully developed as emotionally complex individuals? Or are they one-dimensional, with little emphasis on their inner lives?
Which characters do you admire or dislike-and why? What are their primary characteristics; how would you describe them? In what ways do the characters interact with others-a parent with children; a husband with his wife; a friend with friend.
What motivates the actions of a given character? To what degree does the character's past play a role in her present actions? Are those actions justified or ethical?
Do any characters grow or change over the course of the novel? Does any character come to learn something about himself or view the world differently? If so, what does she learn? Or is the character "static," unchanging from beginning to end?
What is the central conflict of the plot? Is the conflict internal to the character (a psychological conflict)? Or is it external, having to do with character vs. character? Character vs. society? Character vs. nature? (Most novels have a combination of both internal and external conflict.)
Is the novel plot-driven? In other words, does the plot unfold quickly, focusing more on action than on the inner lives of the characters? Which do you prefer?
Is the plot well-developed? Is it believable...or is it forced? Is it suspenseful or more contemplative? Does it unfold naturally, or do you feel manipulated along the way by coincidences, odd plot twists, or cliffhangers?
Is the ending satisfying? Predictable or not? Does is wrap up the ends neatly? Is it too neat, too pat? Does it leave some issues unresolved, questions unanswered? If you could change the ending, would you...if so, how would you change it?
What central ideas might the author be exploring-the novel's themes? Consider ideas about the nature of love, the requirements of goodness, the meaning of justice, the burden of the past...basic human issues that are at stake in the book.
At times I think generic book discussion questions are better than the ones issued by the publishers. Those read too much like a nasty pop quiz. I can't answer the questions-sometimes they're too specific, too precise. In fact, I'm not sure anyone can answer them, except the author...and even then I'm not sure.
The generic book questions, on the other hand, are more open-ended and depend to a larger degree on the experience of the readers. And because of their broader nature, I think they get to the heart of a novel more effectively than the pre-packaged versions.
So the answer to the question above-what do you do when you can't find specific discussion questions for your title-is to relax. Use generic questions and you'll do just fine. In fact, you-and your book club-will do brilliantly!

Article written by M Lundquist

How to Start a Book Club - 10 Easy Steps

So you want to start your own book club? Terrific! Book discussion groups are great ways to make new friends, keep in touch with old ones, discover new books, and have meaty conversations. To help you get organized, simply follow these 10 steps and you'll be on your way!
Decide what kind of a club you want to be-do you want to be seriously academic with a heavy emphasis on book discussion and minimal social chat? Or do you enjoy the social bonding aspect of a book club-food, wine, personal sharing-and want to keep discussions shorter, light and fun? Probably, it's somewhere in between the two.
Decide what kind of books you want to read-do you enjoy reading the older classics or contemporary novels? Challenging works or somewhat lighter? Perhaps poetry, plays, or nonfiction-history, biographies, travel stories, current events. What about specific genres-detective/mystery, romance, inspirational, science fiction or fantasy? Perhaps you're eclectic-you like a variety of genres.
Choose three friends who share similar reading tastes and ways of approaching book discussions-that's important. You all want to be on the same page, so to speak. Each one of the three should ask one or two others, for a total of 7-10 members. It doesn't matter if you don't all know each other; in fact, it's more fun if you don't. And start small-you can always add new members when you want, though it's good to stop at 16, a maximum number for most book clubs.
Choose when and where to meet. Once you all get together, pick a day and time of the month that works with everyone's schedule. Some clubs meet in the evenings, after work; others on weekends. Those who are at home with children, or retired, find midmornings or lunchtime best. The most important thing is to establish a schedule and try to stick to it.Then, of course, decide where you want to meet. Most clubs meet in each others' homes or restaurants. Others find rooms in local libraries, Y's, or other more public places. Or you may decide to become a library-sponsored group, in which case you will always have a good source of fresh new members.
Decide about food. There will be food, right? Of course. Do you want just appetizers or desserts...or do you want full meals? And who prepares the food-does every member bring a dish...or does each member cook once a during the year? Maybe it's brown bag lunch or a potluck supper. Think, too, about having themed food to match your book-feature food from Afghanistan when you read A Thousand Splendid Suns. Look for Book Club Recipes on the web to give you ideas.
Decide how to select your books. Most clubs use one of two basic methods-voting or rotation. The voting begins with members making book suggestions, followed by discussion, and then a vote. The process can be as formal or informal as you want. The rotation system means that every member gets a month to choose a book. Both methods have their strong suits...and their drawbacks. Choose two or three books at a time so members can read at their own pace. Many clubs choose all their books for the year at one meeting, but that ties clubs into a rigid schedule...and it's unfair to members who had to miss the one meeting.
Give yourselves a name. And be creative: some of my favorites are The Happy Bookers...or First, the Food Book Club...or The Brooksville Book Babes.
Send out monthly reminders for every meeting. Don't rely on peoples' memories. Use email, phone or postcards, so make sure you keep an up-to-date contact list.
Keep a journal. It's a nice way to keep track of all the books you've read and what you thought of them. You might include photo highlights of special meetings or trips to hear an author speaker.
Give back to the community. Collect dues and donate books to your local library, or sponsor a scholarship for youngster in a literacy program. Schedule reading times for nursing homes patients.
Starting book clubs takes some initial work up front to get them off the ground. But once up and running, you'll be surprised at how they take on a life of their own. Good luck...and happy reading!

Article written by M Lundquist

Roma Downey - Painting a Portrait of Peace

- Interviewed by John A. Anderson

Inspired by a quote from the great painter Vincent Van Gogh, "It is no longer enough to be the painter, I want to be the paint, " Roma Downey determined to pursue a life in the arts and drama. With her warmth and charisma, Roma's work has colored the lives of millions of fans throughout the world. During the course of our conversation it was easy to see why - Roma opens her heart and soul and applies it fully in everything that she does.

Through your work, you have been able to pursue and associate yourself with very uplifting and positive ventures - from your highly successful Touched by an Angel television series to your work with Phil Coulter on the serene Healing Angel CD, and even your recent children's book "Love is a Family." Your work promotes hope and peace. I'd like to begin by asking you about the events of September 11. Those events have had such an enormous impact on the world. How have these events affected you personally and what are you doing to remain positive?

I have been able to draw from my experience of being raised in Northern Ireland, where terrorism and war in the streets were a way of life for us, particularly in the 1970's and 1980's when those troubles were at their heights. I have some experience living with this kind of fear and the idea that something can happen from unexpected places and that things can blow up, though the terror was never quite as dramatic or as profound as what happened in New York City and Washington.

I do know that even in the darkest of nights for us as children there was great relief, literally, when the sun would rise - breakfast had to be made and the kids had to be fed, and we would have to get off to school. Somehow the days would move forward, and we moved forward with it because we had to. Somehow we dragged one foot in front of the other and we kept going. To some extent I have been able to apply that experience to our present situation. With the horror from which we are all still recovering, we ask ourselves if we will ever get the images out of our minds; probably not.

Do you still think about those experiences you had as a child in Ireland? How have those images remained with you?

Yes, that's my point. I think having come through the violence of Ireland has allowed me to know and communicate that we can and will keep moving forward. For the first few days after the tragedy we were all in a state of paralysis and absolute shock that this could happen on the American mainland, and the fact that it essentially dropped from the sky created a nightmare beyond anyone's imagination or fears. Like probably everybody else, I couldn't sleep for days afterwards. I'd wake up in anxiety, replaying in my mind these events. The first time I got on a plane after the tragedy I was very nervous. I actually flew into JFK Airport 10 days after those events, and found myself for the first time in my life really quite afraid to fly. I have flow a lot all over the world for many years and never thought twice about it. I am as human as the next person.

On the other hand, I think that if we look at the way this tragedy has united the country - indeed, united the world - in the face of all of this fear and terror, we have tremendous movement forward and progress together towards peace. In Ireland, as a direct response to what has happened in the United States, the I.R.A. has laid down their arms knowing that nowhere in the world will anybody tolerate the idea of terrorism again. I think they realize that theirs is a lost cause. Now Ireland is moving towards a lasting peace, maybe as a direct result of this recent tragedy. Nobody wished that the events of September 11 had happened; yet with the way that everyone has joined together, you can still visibly see the signs of God and goodness in the aftermath of these awful things.

Thank you for your thoughts and willingness to discuss this topic. Incidents of depression have escalated due to these recent events and I believe your experience and perspective will benefit many. I appreciate your work on the Healing Angel CD - it is quite timely and it's message of calm and peace has never been more needed.

Healing Angel was a work of poems, prayers and prose set to lovely Celtic music, geared towards positive thinking and reflection. For me, it was my sleep - my unconscious or subconscious - that was more deeply impacted by these events than anything else. We are so inundated with information; the final phone calls from the towers and final phone calls from the plane. Those last moments and images of the planes hitting the buildings have completely penetrated our psyche.

Collectively as a nation we will continue to have sleepless nights. But there comes a point where we get sensory overload. Obviously I was aware of what's going on, but at a certain point I had to stop reading and stop looking at it. It wasn't that I didn't care any longer; I just needed to redirect and recharge myself. Before I go to bed, I like to listen to soothing sounds and music that lends itself to meditation. I pray before I go to sleep and then I just let the day go. I find that very helpful.

Can you describe your upbringing and how that has had an effect on your healthy perspective today? I read that your mother passed away when you were 10 years old.

What I remember of my early childhood is that I was very loved and supported and encouraged in all ways. So when my mother died it was like the lights were turned out in my life. It was truly devastating. That loss created a void in me, and I know the woman that I became grew up around that emptiness as opposed to facing it and getting over it. I can honestly say that it wasn't until the birth of my daughter, Reilly, five years ago, that I felt the void filled for the first time. My father did the best he could under the circumstances, and I certainly felt no lack of love, but a girl needs a mother.

Is it true that both your father and mother died of heart attacks?

They did. My father died in 1985 when I had just entered college, and I found myself orphaned by the time I hit my second decade. So, yes, both of my parents died of heart attacks. At that time in most of Europe, and especially in Northern Ireland, we weren't educated in the ways of healthy eating. Our diets were very fatty - a lot of fried foods, butter and dairy products - and I think that obviously contributed to their death. Also, neither of them were great exercisers. Couple those with added stress of troubled times in which we were living and you have little hope for positive health.

Are you concerned about genetics?

Absolutely. When I deal with a medical issue, first and foremost is my medical history. If there is a genetic weakness, I have to be extra careful. I am also in the business of 'show' where, unfortunately, there is too much emphasis on image. In this industry there is a superficial balance between wanting to be healthy and needing to look good.

Do you have a fitness routine that you follow?

I enjoy fitness, but it is often a time of regularity. If I had planned to work out today like I planned to meet with you, it wouldn't have happened. I am at the mercy of schedule here. I do have an elliptical crosstrainer machine in my home where I try to work in my cardiovascular workout. That is first and foremost to keep my heart healthy and to increase my metabolism to help burn fat. I am also a member of the Excel Gym, and they have a series of body attack and body pump classes. The body pump classes work every main muscle group with weights. I try to attend at least 2-3 times per week.

If time weren't a factor, what fitness routine would you pursue?

I would try to do something every day, alternating between cardiovascular emphasis one day and a weight workout the next, with a little yoga thrown in to relieve stress. I like to work out - I like how it makes me look and feel. I like how I feel after a workout. I often forget, particularly when I'm tired, that workouts actually give me more energy.

What are some 'traditional' exercises that you do NOT enjoy doing?

I don't enjoy saying no to Häagen-Dazs! But I would rather sacrifice a dessert rather than have to do an extra set of pushups. Really, I enjoy the weight workouts more than the cardiovascular workout. I find that running on a treadmill leaves me a little bored, frankly. Every minute seems like an hour. So that's really hard for me to stay on there to get my 20 minutes done.

I do find that I do much better working out in a group. I find it very hard to motivate myself. I don't have a great deal of discipline when it comes to working out. If I am laying on my own to do fifty sit-ups, that fifty very easily becomes twenty, and I tell myself that I will do more later. But when I'm in a group situation I am way too competitive, and if it kills me, I will do the fifty. I find that I work out better when I go to the club as opposed to doing it on my own. When I make myself get down to the gym and get into the class, then I do great. And of course there are usually loads of girls who are half my age and I tell myself - I am sure they are not going to finish if I am not!

How would you describe your nutritional perspective and habits?

Because I do some weight work - and this is small weights, I'm not suggesting I'm Arnold the bodybuilder here - I am aware that my body needs protein. I try to have a high protein, low-fat diet. I love fish. I don't eat too much dairy and I try to make sure that, particularly in the winter months, that I supplement everything with lots of vitamins. I begin every day with a health smoothie that is protein based with a banana and all the vitamin supplements that I take.

Because of the hours that I am working, my biggest mistake is that I forget to eat. I'm not suggesting that this is the way you should do it. But I just get caught up in the work. I don't have an enormous appetite, and I sometimes need to be reminded to eat. I know that it's better for the body to eat every 2-3 hours to achieve the metabolic at an optimal level. So I will snack on the set - usually eating a mix of cottage cheese and fruit.

Do you have any nutritional 'guilty pleasures?'

My favorite Häagen-Dazs is called Dulce de Leche. It's a caramel swirl in rich ice cream - it's sinfully sweet, but it's a spoonful of heaven! My experience is that if you take a spoonful at the freezer, standing up, then that doesn't count! It's only when you are sitting down with a bowl and a spoon that there are calories. Calories somehow don't count when you stand at the fridge.

For an Angel, it's amazing how down to earth you are.

The hardest thing with trying to get fit or lose weight or trying to stay healthy is simply getting started. Sometimes it's easy to let our time commitments or work schedules get in the way of our fitness goals. I find that if I let my workouts go for a week or two weeks, then it's hard to get back into doing it. But that's the time that you've really got to make yourself go. When you get out of a routine it's too easy to say yes to an extra portion of French fries and tell yourself that you will go tomorrow, or next week, or I'll go in the new year. Don't get into that trap - go now! Do it.

What is your relationship with the Safe Kid's Coalition and how did this come about?

I am their national spokesperson. They approached me and asked if I would do it. I have found that if I had taken on everything that came my way I would have no time to do my day job. I decided early on that I would select things that only had to do with children or Ireland. I have also done a lot of work with Make a Wish, and Project Children. I do a lot of work with Primary Children's Hospital which I find time for on any occasion I can get.

Out of all the things that come your way, why did you choose Safe Kid's Coalition?

Because I think it is so worthy. We've got to take care of our kids, and if my celebrity can be used to draw attention to any of these issues, then in my opinion it is celebrity well used.

I understand that art has been a longtime passion of yours. Is that something you still pursue?

I did have aspirations of being a painter. It is a great love of mine, but at the moment I just have no time to pursue it, but I hope eventually it is something that I can return to. But I am juggling here as a single parent mother with a full time job - that's a lot to handle.

Can you comment on being a single parent?

Reilly is my first and foremost. I do have a great nanny. When I'm not working I'm with my daughter. During the day she comes here to the trailer and spends the afternoon with me. So even though I put in long days on the set, I get to see her. Though my work hours are long, I am not working every minute of the day because there is lighting and rearranging, so I have quite a bit of downtime during my day, which allows me to be with my little girl. But on the topic of single parenting, I just wrote a children's book called Love is a Family. It embraces the non-traditional family and reminds children that family is not simply 'mom-dad-brother-sister,' but a family is love, and if you have been raised in love, then that is every bit a family as the next one.

The book fills a void out there. Today there is a growing percentage of families that are headed by only one parent. That is a huge amount of people. I think that for a child like my own to be able to read a little book where the heroine was being raised by a single parent, she can identify with that. But I also hope for kids who being raised by mom and dad, that this book will help them remain open-minded. As we know, kids can be so cruel, and perhaps this book may help them be more understanding of that child in their class who has only one parent.

Do you have any other plans to write another children's book?

Yes, I'd like to. I have a good relationship with Reagan Books, the publicist. It's something I am able to do here on my laptop during my workday. So, maybe down the road I'll have another go at it.

Finally, what are your holiday plans?

Togetherness with my family and friends. Every December in my daughter's name I throw a lovely children's party for the children of the Touched by an Angel crew. It's hundreds of kids. We have all kinds of fun characters that come and a magician. That will be really fun.

Article written by John A. Anderson

Slumber Party

"Are you all right?" Reiko asked while looking down at her. She had short silver hair and deep red eyes. Her school uniform was entirely messed up. She fumed as she flipped over and looked up at the aggravator of her humiliation. He had a pair of faded blue jeans on with a black vest with a dragon on it. It fit him snugly. "Are you talking to me?" she said noticing him hovering over her. Her books went flying out of her hands when she tripped on the last step of the stairwell leading to register class. "I'm fine, I'll be transfigured by our teacher into a stopwatch any second, but all in all I'm fine" she answered with a bored-tone. He smiled, took hold her arms and hauled her up, "Good to know" he said softly. "Didn't I just say that I was late?" she said, she was still held in his grip. "Who cares, she never notices anyway" he said with a shrug as he let go. "... Yeah" she said with a smile and started to pick up her fallen property. He bent down to help, "My name is Reiko". She looked up with a smile, "Jo" she answered still having that bored-tone to her voice. "You're so sweet" he said with wonder in his eyes. Her textbook slipped from the pile in her hand, but he caught it just in time, "You want go to a movie sometime?" he abruptly spluttered out. Her eyebrow lifted as a smile hit her face, "Aww, and miss the excitement of watching paint dry at home? Sure" she answered. He chuckled, turned on his heel and jogged off -not to register class though. "Hey, my textbook, you can't take it! I need that!" Jo yelled, 'Dork'. She sighed, drew up her shoulders and headed off to Register. "Hey, Jo" a voice said and running was heard towards Jo's position. "Hi..." Jo said. "Oh, where is he? Nothing else can get you pumped up" her friend said looking around. "He ran off a few seconds ago towards the pool" Jo replied and cracked a smile. "And?" the girl urged while snaking her arm through Jo's. "He asked me out" Jo answered inattentively and came to a stop. "So? Details, details! Tell me how he looks, the works!" the schoolgirl interrogated on as they continued -not to register class but to the school Quad.

Ring Ring...

"What is it now?"

"Is this Jo?"

"And you're calling me why?"

"I don't know if you can... remember me... but, I'm Reiko"

"You do realize I need my mathsbook"

"I'm sorry! I was so freaked out! I forgot to give it back" he apologised in a soft tone. "How did you get my number anyway?" she asked. "You wrote it on the back of your textbook" he replied. 'I wrote that for Misato!' she thought as a cold wave rushed over her, "You've got to be kidding me" she accused. "Do you have boyfriend, I'm sorry I didn't ask this first... but" Reiko said carefully. "I had a bf, a loving bf... and I killed him" she said sweetly. "Nice!" he said approvingly. "I don't suppose that this throws you out of whack, does it" she said in disbelief. "Nope" he answered and took in a deep breath, "Okay. So how about that date tonight?". "Don't wait up" she said flatly but he already hung up. Reiko stood up from his bed and put his cell phone away. "Melchior! Melchior!!" Reiko yelled happily as he ran out his room. He found his brother walking down the hallway while drinking coffee, "Guess what?!" Reiko said happily. "... you're going to tell me anyway" Melchior said with a grin. "You know Misato from class?" Reiko said and jumped in place. "Yeah?" Melchior said and took a sip of coffee. "I am going on a date with her" Reiko said cheerily. "That's great..." Melchior said in a good-for-you tone. "It's awesome, I know! Got to go!" Reiko said and suddenly stormed off. Melchior's brow lifted for a second. His brother ran to his room and slammed the door shut. "Not again" he muttered nodding his head and shrugged.

Knock knock knock...

Knock knock knock...

"Nobody's home!"

Knock knock knock...

"I said: Go Away!!"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Reiko, go see what idiot's at the door"

"Why do I have to?" the voice from the bedroom next to him resounded.

"Because I'm older"

"...that's not even a reason."

Reiko Walters stood up anyway and sleepily walked to the door. He searched around for the key on the counter next to the door until he found it. He slowly opened the door only to come face to face with four other boys.

Takao Reinhart; Kaoru Sanders; Alphonse Carter and Akito van Heerden stood in front of their door. All of them wore their pajamas and apparently preparing for a party too.

"What's all this for?" Reiko asked softly as he looked down at several bags next to the door. All the bags contained chips, soda, music cd's and torches. "The slumber party, duh" Alphonse said with a smug look on his face. "You're not having a party here" Reiko said and yawned. Alphonse wore his brown hair in a low ponytail with no shirt, only long legged pants and a trench coat on.

"What idiot dares disturb my peaceful slumber?!" Melchior growled as he walked to the door. Reiko turned to his brother and opened the door further to let his brother see what is making his face distort in agitation worse than a man making a call to his ex-best friend. Melchior's face momentarily didn't register who stood in front of him.

"One would think they'd outgrow things like this" Reiko said in a bored tone. "We said: GET LOST!!" Melchior bellowed and slammed the door shut. "Aww... please, Melchior! We walked all the way here!" Takao pleaded sweetly through the door. He was wearing long dark blue silk pants with stars on them with a white shirt."They did walk a long way, Melchior" Reiko said softly, although the thought of having all of theTak clan over here was enough to make him barricade himself in his closet for a month. His short black pants and green shirt was ruffled to such an extent that trying to straighten them was impossible. "So? Then you won't get lost while walking back there!" Melchior answered through the door and irritably ruffled his brown hair to rid himself of his frustration of being woken up at eleven before starting down the hall "Idiots woke me up during the best dream ever... Revy... those idiots!!".Silence ruled the house for a moment. "Come on!" Alphonse urged as he started to imitate a little puppy. Melchior suddenly rooted to the spot. Reiko braced for impact, he knows his brother is combustible when he's tired. Melchior turned on his heel, walked back to the door, moved Reiko out of the way and wretched the door open. "What will it take to get you freaks off my porch?!!" he bellowed. The echo resounded through the house and the entire neighborhood.

"Nice lungs, Mel!" Kaoru cheered from behind Takao. Kaoru's light blue tank top had little yellow fish embroiled on it and this shone slightly from the porch light. Melchior stood for a moment fuming in front of the door. Reiko just smiled as he sleepily rubbed his eyes.

"Get inside!! Get inside!!" Melchior screamed and stood to the side. Akito stood at the back and shook his head, "Geez, you'd think this happens often" he grumbled as he pulled his baggy shorts down a bit and straightened his red tank top. One by one they filed in while grabbing the bags each also earning a death glare from both Melchior and Reiko. The first one inside -like usual- was Alphonse. Alphonse was the original leader of Tak until Melchior took over. He has brown hair and emerald eyes. Next inside is Takao: he's the jock of the group. He is the blonde haired and brown eyed softy. Kaoru is the cupid of the group; he has a tendency to follow Amara Masitaka wherever she goes. His black hair and blue eyes win favor with most girls, but not her. The last one to enter is Akito. He's the peacekeeper and mediator of the group. He has the typical blue eyes and blonde hair cutie but avoids the female kind like some kind of a disease.
They walked into the Walters' household and took a quick glance around before heading to the TVroom. Melchior shut the door and locked it, "Let's just get this over with" Melchior said with a grumble. Reiko walked past but was grabbed by Kaoru and Alphonse and being dragged to the TV room. "Touch me and I'll kill you" Melchior hissed under his breath just as Akito and Takao wanted to do the same to him. They were all plopped down in front of the TV.

Akito rummaged through one of the bags before retrieving a DVD-box from it and swinging it around in the air, "Who wants to watch Black Sheep?!" he yelled happily. Kaoru grimaced, "You watch that garbage?" he sneered. "What's wrong with Garbage?" Takao threatened. "Nothing..." Kaoru whispered with a roll of his eyes. "Can I go?" Reiko asked sweetly. "NO!" Alphonse yelled and walked to the TV cabinet and opened the bottom doors of the stand, "Here" he said and tossed several pillows to them successively. "Do you have some kind of addiction to lightning, Al?" Akito asked as he lifted the dark blue pillowcase with yellow lighting bolts on it to the air. "Bite me" Alphonse yelled and threw the bag with chips and soda to Akito. Akito caught it and handed each of them one. Alphonse sat back down between Melchior and Kaoru, "Play it already!" he yelled. Akito shook his head once more and pressed 'Play' on the remote, "Impatient, much?" he hissed. "Don't you have anyone else to bother" Reiko complained and buried his face in the pillow Alphonse had thrown at him. "Suck it up" Alphonse countered but ended up on the floor after Melchior had slapped him behind the head -HARD. "You know what? Reiko is right" Akito said with a nod.

He stood up and walked to the DVD-player and opened it. "Arigato!" Reiko thanked and started to stand up too. Suddenly the humble surround sound system in the household was turned into the rave centre of the twenty-first century as house music filled the TV-room. "You're going to wake up my neighbors!!" Reiko protested and ran to the stereo. Takao grabbed hold of him and turned the music further up. Melchior grabbed his ears trying to muffle out the music, "You're insane!!" he accused with a grin. Akito smiled sweetly as to reply. They all started to dance to the music although Reiko took some persuasion to join in without resentment.

The only one not dancing was Melchior, who was fuming beyond belief about this intrusion. "Music is to dancing as boys are to...?" a caramel whisper was heard in his ear. "What?" he said and turned around, "Amara?" . The girl smiled, her long purple-dyed curly hair swinging to the music, "Fancy meeting you here. Mind if I bring a few friends?". Her purple eyes sparkled with excitement as she tugged on her mini black skirt. Her red crop top just covered everything; she also wore over the top a black blouse, fully unbuttoned. He blushed slightly and looked away, "Not more of you!" he protested with a loud growl. Through the window of the study Melchior could see five other girls climb through. "NO!! You have to go! I have enough problems!!" Melchior screamed frantically. They kept on coming in anyway. Reiko peered over to his brother and stopped dancing long enough to see what his brother is trying to put a stop to. The first to enter was Rei Keller wearing a brown jacket, white tank top and leather pants. "Hi, Mel" she said happily and walked towards him, "Thank you for inviting us".

Following was Eureka Reinhart, Takao's sister, weaing a pair of jeans and a navy blouse, "Ola!". Next up was Misato, the leader of their little group, wearing a green strappy dress, "Evening" and brushed down the dress after she entered. Jo entered after Misato, "Another lame party?" she said in her usual bored-tone, "Hi, Melchior, hope we're not the cause of you busting a cap". Melchior looked like he could explode any moment. Reiko walked over to his brother and leaned on him, "This might be fun, loosen up" he urged and invited them to the TV room. The last to make the entrance through the window was none other than Etna wearing her red tank top and pink short skirt. "TAKAO!!" Melchior yelled, now entirely awake, "GET YOUR GIRLFRIENDS OUT OF MY HOUSE!!" he screamed and walked over to the nuisance of a boy, "Out! Out!!".

Reiko walked over to his brother and put an arm around him, "C'mon, we're all awake anyway, let's just enjoy the party, okay?". That did nothing to lessen his brother's mood. "If you don't I'll tell your mom you are the one hosting this little soirée while she was gone" Amara said with a sneer. Melchior hung his head and turned the music back on. "I have a better idea" she said and sat down on the floor, "Truth or Dare". Everyone except Reiko, Melchior and Akito sat down. "Don't be such a wuss!" Rei pleaded and clasped her hands together, "Please! For me!" she said sweetly. Akito rolled his eyes and reluctantly sat down. Reiko ended up dragging Melchior down too. "Now, since I initiated I go first" Amara said with her husky deep voice, "Let's see... who I should pick... Reiko!". Reiko's head shot up from where he was trying to pry Rei off Kaoru, "What?" he said confused. Rei took the opportunity to latch on Kaoru -like usual- and not let go of his arm whereas he, in turn, had given up on trying to pry her off."Truth or dare?" she said with a sneer. Reiko rolled his head, "Oh, just dare me" he said knowing that truth would probably something worse. "I dare you to... organize a flash mob for two o' clock" she said and laughed to herself. "Flash mob...?" he repeated and shrugged. He took his phone from his pocket.

Flash mob

02h05 @Jamesson University, in front of ArtsTheatre

4 potatoes,frm group 'Tak'

written on items:"Amara's idea"

He sent this to all the listings in his phonebook in 'Private number' setting. "There we go" he said smugly. "That is so not a dare!!" Jo protested and yawned. It was already twelve. "Now, I pick Misato" Reiko said with a sweet smile. Misato blushed slightly and brushed a bang of blonde hair behind her ear, "Truth... Let's hear it then, I don't have all day". Reiko grinned, "Have you ever kissed another girl?" he asked and started to chuckle. She bit her lip, "No" said blushing. Reiko laughed out loud, which caused his brother to elbow him in the ribs. Misato took a deep breath, "Melchior... pick" she commanded. Reiko's brother seemed taken aback, "Why me?" he said irritably, "Fine, dare me". Misato grinned, "Kiss...." She started. Her eyes waded across the room for a moment searching for a suitable victim. Melchior started to blush deeply, "Kiss?" he repeated softly, and not sure that he'd heard her right. "Kiss... Alphonse" she said.

This made everyone laugh but at the same time look very shocked at Melchior. Alphonse leaned back, "No... now wait a minute! He's a guy!! I'm a guy!! That's just wrong!!" he protested. Melchior's mouth hung open to protest but nothing came out. Amara tilted her head, "Then there's no gender issues" she offered with a grin. Melchior sat rooted on his spot. "Dude, Yaoi fantasizing much?" Alphonse said disgustedly and huffed. Etna laughed, "Well, I don't see anything wrong with a boy-boy relationship, do you?" she said and looked to the other girls who merely shook their heads in support.

Melchior gave a shudder and pulled Reiko in front of him, "I am going to be sick" he said turning green. Reiko waved his hand in front of his face, "Can't we do something else?" he offered to Misato. She shook her head and shoved Alphonse unto of Melchior. "Get to it" she ordered. Melchior edged back. Alphonse sneered and grabbed the sides of Melchior's head pulled him closer and threw his cloak over the both of them. "Whhooaaa!! Yeah!!" Rei cheered. Bunches of wolf whistles were also heard. Meanwhile, "So how long do we have to stay like this?" Melchior murmured while blushing like mad. The trench coat was extremely hot and having it right on top of them was not helping.

Alphonse's face was right next to Melchior and he could feel how Melchior's face twisted into a frown, "Shut it, at least this beats us doing a French tongue-tango" he whispered and put his thumb unto Melchior's lips. "What are you-" Melchior started a muffled protest but froze as Alphonse put his lips to his thumb. The only thing separating them from what they were actually supposed to be doing was Alphonse's thumb which acted as a barrier. 'I am going to die' Melchior thought in shame. Alphonse closed his eyes as if in a real kiss, threw off the cloak and quickly enough drew back so as to make it seem as if they did kiss. It was a cool breeze brushing against him as Alphonse stood up and walked back to his seat with a grin, 'I am so good' Alphonse thought smugly. Reiko yelled in disgrace as he grabbed hold of his brother's arm, "HOW COULD YOU?!!" he bellowed.

Melchior looked over to his brother with a dazed expression, "I... just". Everyone else was so busy cheering they didn't notice what actually happened. "What's wrong, Reiko?" Eureka enquired with a teasing smirk "Wanted to keep your brother to yourself?". Melchior's face went bright pink, "That's just nasty!" he yelled and threw a pillow at her. They all bursted out laughing.


Article written by Reina Links

When the World No Longer Makes Sense

You were sitting on the bench in the park. Why? It was almost dawn. Exactly. It's early, no one's awake... and besides, you need a sunrise today. Nothing has been going according to plan these days. Late homework? Check. Late for school? Check. Embarrased in front of the ENTIRE school? Check. Survived? Double check. Sunrise? Pending... It was still quite dark. Sunrise was supposed to be in about half an hour. WOW! IT'S DARK!!?? You feel someone's hands covering your eyes... but you didn't hear any footsteps...? Strange. "Guess who!" you hear a boy say. "Erm... I don't know" you say in an awkward tone which makes the guy let go.
You look behind you. It was the guy from your geography class. Joshua. The hottie with spiked black hair.. dark green eyes... with flecks of red in the iris.. 'like a bloodstone', you think with a small smile. The same tender smile arrived on his feature at the same time. "You've been having quite an interesting week" he said and walked over to stand in front of the bench. He extended his arm to the bench as if to say 'May I?' You nodded and he sat down. Close to the opposite end but closer than you thought he would. You have a few classes with him, you have talked before, but not about anything but geography, technology and the odd Yu Yu Hakusho conversation. He was awesome. Smart, loveable but a but also.. quite a mystery. He hanged his arm over the top of the bench and leaned back a bit, making himself comfortable.
"What makes you say that?" you say in that oh-so-casual tone. You had a reputation to uphold! People don't deserve to see you unhappy... or sad... or a little down... not even now.
"Your smile" he said and lightly poked your suddenly blushing cheek. He chuckled slightly and put his hand back on the bench. You looked away and sighed, "So? It doesn't matter. Everything's fine" you said and shifted slightly uncomfortably. He laughed heartedly, "It matters to me, silly. Your smile is much more enriching when it's real" he said and suddenly blushed quite badly. Your eyebrow lifted but you didn't say anything. He coughed to cover his embarrassment and pulled his brown leather jacket a bit tighter around him. You look up. The moon is full. A full moon is always better than the rest. "The moon seems larger tonight" he said, also looking at the moon now. "It's not going to be 'tonight' for much longer" you mocked slightly. You both smiled. He glanced at you and extended his arm up to the sky. He closed his one eye and covered his view the moon with the palm of his hand. You giggled at the sight and looked up. The night sky was so clear tonight. For the first time this whole week you could see the stars. "Tell me, Kaoru, did you manage to make it to the Milky Way?" he whispered with that same intoxicating smile on his lips. That was just the weirdest question you've ever heard. One of the best questions though.. You laughed slightly, "Umm... Joshua, I never went to outer space" you said and shook your head.
"I'm not talking about outer space" he answered looking at you with his piercing eyes.
You smiled and reached your hand up to sky too, now understanding what he meant, "I guess I'm still standing on the rings of Saturn" you answered and lowered your hand. He lowered his too, to untop of your own hand. The sun slowly started to rise. You could see rays of light slowly flooding the park. "And yet you keep the sun in your smile" he said and pulled you up from the bench. You laughed and hugged him. He hugged you back and lowered his head to your shoulder, "I'll never be able to live without it" he said softly. You leaned back and tilted your head, "Can't keep running on battery power then?" you stated. .. you both burst out laughing and head out of the park. Oh yea, sunburn at the beach sound better than school right now!

Article written by Reina Links

When Boys Become Heroes

You slouched even further into your chair... Physics was invented, why? you ask yourself as your teacher explained it for the fourth time that day. You already knew how it worked, why it worked, what makes it work but as to WHY you have work is still a bewilderment. Six exercises already... how much homework does that man think we need?

"I think he'll give you a few more to do" you heard a voice come from behind you.

Wait.. but there weren't even chairs or... oh.

You looked back only to see a boy, your age, leaning into the window.

Chocolate brown hair... brown puppy-dog eyes... A slight blush crept onto your face but you quickly shook it off. Neither your friends or your teacher noticed that you two were whispering to each other, him outside the class and you inside. The boy smiled sweetly and looked over to the black board, "Gave us the whole of chapter eight to do... heh... see you are as bored as I was" he laughed softly. "And what makes you think that?" you said and folded your arms. He pointed to your leg. Bounce-bounce-bouce-bounce. You both laughed softly. "I'm Kio" he introduced with that serene smile on his lips. "Lynne" you answered softly. He glanced to the black board and then looked back at you, "Catch you during break?" he asked. Before you could even formulate a decent answer he had already vanished. You smiled to yourself. During break you didn't see him anywhere, even after school... You had to stay late since it was practice trails for athletics but then, just as you were leaving school you spotted him. Looked like he was fighting.. fighting?! You ran over to the secluded part of the school. It was the area, all ruins now, which was part of the school a few years ago but now it was just a part of the 'No Entry' section.

As soon as you arrive he spun towards you and grabbed the guy who he was fighting in a headlock. "Oh, hi Lynne" he said smiling brightly. His voice sounded strained, but all he had was a bruise above his left eye. "Kio! Holy Crackers!!" you said but stood rooted on the spot. "Holy Crackers? he repeated confused. The guy who was in a headlock was trying his best to escape. It was actually quite funny to see Kio sit on the guy. The poor guy flailing around.. "This is more addicting than watching a monkey on crack" you said with a smirk on your face. Both of the guys sweatdropped. "Sorry, had to deal with this guy first" Kio apologized and wrestled the guy to the ground, then promptly sat on him. "What did he do?" you said, not sure whether or not to be on his side. "The usual. Bragging about asking a girl out.. dating her.. then dumping her when he's done with her" he said with the same cheerfulness in his voice... but this time it was also laced with pure disgust.

Your eyes widened a bit. The guy on the ground was the guy in school who you've had a crush on!? You blushed a bit, but you had to know.. "Who was.. the girl?" you asked timidly. Kio's tired eyes shot up to meet yours for a minute. Of course it was you. Your crush was now literally crushed and had passed out. Satisfied, Kio stood up and brushed his hands off on his trousers. It was already quite dark and the moon was casting a slight glow over everything. You were still standing quietly on the spot, you didn't want Kio to see what you were thinking... feeling. You let out a small giggle and looked up to the moon, a tear falling down your cheek "Oh well, it could've been worse" you say and wiped it away. Kio walked over and hugged you tightly, "I'm sorry" he said in that creamy voice of his. "Nah, it's better this way" you assured and sighed a bit. He suddenly let go of you, turned and -ACHOO!!!

You sweatdropped slightly, "WOW, that was anti-climactic!" you said and laughed.

He sniffed and looked back at you, "Ugh..." he moaned. "You fight like the Blue Knight but you catch a cold in an instant? How does that work?" you said laughing. He sneezed again but smiled, "Oh yea, I can still kick your butt any -ACHOO" his sentence was cut short again. You threw him your jacket and smiled, "I think we'll postpone our battle for when you can actually finish what you were going to say" you said and giggled. He tried to glare but it came out as a cute puppy-face. You smiled and nodded, "Oh yea, that was scary" you agreed and laughed even louder. He stood still for a moment, "Wha?" was all he could think of to say, but you just smiled, took his hand and led him to the gate of the school. "Thanks for looking out for me" you said when you finally reached the gate. He gave your hand a light squeeze and brought it to his lips, "That's what I'm here for".

Article written by Reina Links

When Visiting a Haunted House

You growled irritably, "What is up with all these freaking spooky houses?!" you muttered under your breath. Just as you stepped on the next plank it cracked and sent you to meet mother earth in one of THE most painful of reunions. You sighed against the dirty floor and tried to pull your leg out the floor. "Perfect, stuck in a dusty old mansion with my foot through the floor" you mumbled out with frustration. You had been suggested to ....a.k.a politely asked to...a.k.a. They said if you didn't go that they'd post your account name on the bulletin board at school along with a colourful (not to mention sparkly) border, stating that "You were open for all personalized one-shot requests" which would mean 100 by lunchbreak the same day. You sighed. You didn't WANT to write more than what you already had waiting for you and adding a hundred more to that?

Then again, THAT couldn't be worse than the situation that you were in right now.

You pulled on your leg. It didn't budge and it was painful. You heard walking from the floor underneath you. "OW! What the fuck is leg doing sticking out of the ceiling!?" you heard a guy say from below. You went red in the face. Great, humiliation, here I come. "Oh, I'm just hanging here.. showing off my calf muscles to the entire population" you said sarcastically. Honestly, why ELSE would you see something like that? For a moment you thought and decided not to answer your own thoughts. "You need some help?" the guy asked. "I'm fine on my own, thanks" you said and pulled on your leg again. It's a good thing you had jeans on, otherwise this might've been REALLY painful. You could hear a slight chuckle coming from below "I can see that. By the way, your sneaker's cute... Oooo... sueded... nice" he said.

"How'd you know that?" you wondered out loud. "It hit me in the head when I walked by.. must've been sent flying by your Siamese fighting-fish leg" he answered.

You heard some creaking. "What do you mean by that?! Siamese fighting-fish LEG?!" you yelled and whacked the floor silently wishing it was his head. "Well it IS flailing everywhere.. and you're feisty... it fits" he replied flatly and chuckled to himself. More creaking. "WHAT'S WITH this place?!" you yelled. All these noises were irritating you.. and freaking you out... also... your leg was getting quite sore. It was stuck at such an angle that you couldn't possibly remove it on your own, but you didn't want to call this guy up for help. Then, right next to you, you heard a snap.

You whipped your head around to see a guy sitting on his heels next to you. "I see we're still stuck" he said and smiled. He was the guy who was irritating you from down there was right next to you!! "Here, your girlyness... your shoe" he said and tossed you your pink sneaker. You caught it and put it down next to you. "I'm not stuck.. just relaxing for a bit" you said and leaned back on your elbows. "Yes.. relaxing with a foot through the ceiling.. on Halloween... INSIDE a creepy-ass house" he said and looked thoughtful for a moment, "That makes total sense". He stood up and walked towards your trapped leg and bent down,leaning over you to get a better look. His reddish-brown hair fell in front of his grey eyes. "Hey! I know Karate!!" you yelled and sat up, ready for a fight.

"Yes, I do too... and 50 other dangerous words," he said, laughed.

You smiled and relaxed. He extended you his hand. You took it and he pulled you up. As you stood he worked and eventually managed to remove your leg from that painful a place. "Thank you so much," you said and rolled your ankle to relieve the tension. "Sure thing. Hey... I'm Justin" he said and smiled sweetly. You finished pulling your sneaker back on. He smiled. "I'm Railee" you answered and dusted yourself off. "Want to get out of here and get some coffee?" he asked brushed through his coppery hair. "...with some Spaghetti alla Carbonara?" you suggested. "... you like Italian food??" he wondered out loud. A smile crossed both of your faces. "Lets!!!" you both yelled and ran as fast as you could out of that freaky house.

Article written by Reina Links