Another Snipet from my new story. Please Read! Thank you!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
May 25, 2007 9:34pm CST
I know it's long. But please, I could really use the critique! I know I am not the best writer and could use the help. Thanks. I really look forward to your comments, good or bad. Remember: This is NOT the beginning of it, characters have already been introduced. Thank you.
The bed shuddered as the ship began to glide across the water. Michael lay on his stomach, a pillow under his chin, on the bed. Brandon sat at the foot of the bed, the television was turned to the USA channel. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet danced with the residents of the lower deck.
“Why the hell are we even watching this movie?” Michael asked.
Brandon shrugged. “It was on. Hey! You wanna have some fun?”
Michael sat up. “Depends on how many people you’ll hurt in the process.”
“No one will get hurt.” Brandon jumped up and dug through his suitcase. He lifted out a camcorder. He handed it to Michael. “Tape’s already in there. It’s all set. I just have to change real fast.” Brandon grabbed his swimming suit, locking himself in the bathroom.
Five minutes later Brandon strolled around deck, Michael stalking behind him, camera in hand. Brandon turned and gave Michael a thumbs up, who nodded nervously. Brandon spotted an elderly couple sitting on deck chairs. The man sat reading a newspaper, the woman, sunbathing. She sat on the deck chair closer to the boys, the chair to her left was empty.
Brandon signaled Michael to stop and start recording, he then walked merrily to the couple.
“Hi,” he said when he reached the man and woman. The woman looked up at the shirtless boy in disgust. His swimming trunks, which featured a spinning Tasmanian devil cartoon, hung loosely on his hips. The old woman snubbed him, the man ignored him completely. “Do you mind if I sit here?” Brandon motioned towards the empty deck chair.
The woman sat up, impatient. “Young man, why don’t you look for some company more suitable for yourself. Like the rats below deck.”
Brandon shrugged. “It’s kind of hard to get a tan below deck. I’ll just sit here. Don’t worry I won’t bother you.” Brandon bent over and pulled down his swimming trunks, a black Speedo took their place. Brandon sat down next to the woman, who gasped in horror.
"Roger!” She screeched at her husband, who until now appeared oblivious to the whole situation. The old man stared at Brandon.
“Young man! Do you think that is appropriate attire?”
“Well,” Brandon said, “I think to sun bathe it is absolutely vital.”
“Roger, do something,” the woman pushed.
“Boy, now you listen here,” Roger began.
“Look,” Brandon interrupted, raising his voice. “I want to sunbathe without a couple of old windbags hassling me about my choice of attire. Besides,” Brandon laid down on the chair. “It’s not like your old lady hasn’t seen any of this before.” Brandon turned his head. “Am I right?” He winked.
The couple gasped. A hand landed on Brandon’s shoulder. Jack Carter, his fathers right hand man, stared down at Brandon. He held Michael by the arm, who hung his head in defeat.
2 responses
@Wanderlaugh (1622)
• Australia
26 May 07
Dialogue and situations are good. I think it's how you play the characters that makes or breaks.
However- Brandon's being a bit too articulate, and could be more subtle about annoying the dinosaurs. "Attire" is a word which might work from him if it's a sneer, or a shot.
Like:
“I want to sunbathe without a couple of fossils hassling me about my choice of ..."attire"," said Brandon, as if the word was unclean, and his dignity wounded.
The old lady, despite being pompous, is a potential sympathetic victim, at the Speedo stage.
How about:
Brandon smiled invitingly at the old lady, who had transformed from outrage to confusion, some ancient echoes of her adolescent instincts reasserting themselves at the wrong time.
I see that the story is heading to his father's reaction, and developing from there. So I'd say that he needs to be seen to be a bit more advanced as a nuisance to make that work.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
26 May 07
Wow you are good. It goes straight into his fathers reaction after that =P I just cut that part out right now lol.
I had the word 'attire' italisized on the word document, it just didn't copy it that way. He said it to mock the old man.
The reason Brandon does this is because he has seen people like this degrade his father (and himself) for years, and he does not like them.
Thank you very much for your response! Lots of good information in it! :)
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
26 May 07
I saw in another post you were worried about the word "lay" "lie" "laid", it might be a bit more evocotive if you used "streached out on the chair" giving a bit more sensuality to the action.
You also don't say how close Michael is following, I almost got the impression that he might've been doing it close up. You might have Brandon station him at a corner or something.



