Where is Home?

 

1.    _X__       Do not use the word (or any derivative of the word) “alien” anywhere in the paper.

2.     _X__      Primarily present tense narration

3.    _X__       Difficulties of communication must be described (DIF)

4.     _X__      Someone/thing in the story makes a gesture that only one other character in the           

                      story understands (GEST)

5.     _X__      Fear manifests as violence (FMV)

                      * This rule is used when the characters are walking downtown.  Josh walks      on the outside to                                    protect Rue from people on the street that want money.  The fear of homelessness may cause people                          to become violent to get money.

6.     _X__      A common thing takes on great significance (SIG)

7.     _X__      The concept of loneliness must be addressed (LONE)

8.     _X__      You must have a character that dwells in two worlds (DWELL)

9.     _X__      A detailed description of a home from 2 different perspectives (HOME 1, HOME 2)

10.  _X__      Something must glow in the dark (GLOW)

11.  _X__      A character fumbles with technology he/she/it does not understand (TECH)

12.  _X__      Something hatches (HATCH)

                      * The door on the plane looks like a tiny hatch from far away.

13.  _X__      An aerial perspective (AERIAL)

14.  _X__      A means of transport must be described (TRANS)

15.  _X__      Something slimy (SLIME)

16.  _X__      Something hairy (HAIR)

17.  _X__      Written symbols that are not understood by everyone in the story (SYMBOL)

18.  _X__      A higher mind/greater or unusual intelligence of some kind must be represented     

                      (INTELLIGENCE)

                      * Intelligence is used in cleaver, yet funny comment made by Josh.

19.  _X__       Many eyes (EYES)

20.  _X__       A description of the night sky (SKY)

21.  _X__       An object is used for something other than its intended purpose (OBJECT)

22.  _X__       A cover-up (COVER)

​

Details

1)    _X__ 5 references to lighting (LIGHT 1-5)

2)    _X__ a detailed description of a voice (VOICE)

3)    _X__ 5 references to body language (BODY 1-5)

4)    _X__ 5 references to weather (WEATHER 1-5)

5)    _X__ 5 references to a texture (TEXT 1-5)

           

 

 

Liz lies in her dark room, trying to sleep but her mind won’t quiet. (LIGHT1) The sheets are soft and cozy around her, though she can’t seem to get comfortable. (TEXT 1) It’s been one of those weeks when she just really misses being home. (DWELL/LONE) She really likes some parts of her new college life, but sometimes she just feels lost, unsure of the path she’s taken.  She wants to figure out why she feels so jumbled up inside, but the feelings won’t translate into words. (DIF) In the dim filtered light coming through the shades, Liz notices her favorite Willow Tree carving sitting on her desk. (LIGHT 2/ SIG) It’s of a mother and daughter in a loving embrace. (BODY 1) This cherished gift makes Liz imagine a goodnight hug from her mom and lying in her cold dorm room, Liz can almost feel the warmth of her mother’s hug. (BODY 2/ WEATHER 1) With a heavy heart, Liz hopes she will feel better in the morning and eventually drifts off to sleep.  Everything is always better in the morning.

 

Liz wakes with excitement, it’s finally Saturday and Josh is coming to visit in the afternoon.  Liz scrambles to put away the numerous piles of clothes scattered around her room, and remembers to make her bed.  On her way out the door, the sticky note on her mirror makes her smile.  The sloppily drawn moon with arrows around it is her mom’s way of saying “I love you to the moon and back.” (SYMBOL)

 

It is nearing noon when Liz gets back to her dorm from her job and Josh will be there soon.  Just as she is running down the hall to the bathroom with toothbrush in mouth, she hears a familiar low voice in the common room. (VOICE) Shoot, he’s already here. She thinks to herself.  Why can I never seem to be ready on time?  By the time she’s back from the bathroom, he’s waiting at her door, clearly hiding something behind his back. (GESTURE) He pulls out two bags of mint Milano cookies, her favorite.  She skips into his open arms and indulges in the simple human touch of a hug. (BODY 3) His sweater is soft on her face and his cologne smells of happy memories. (TEXT 2) They gather some snacks and a picnic blanket from her room and set off for a refreshing day at the park. 

 

As they pull into Jetton park, Liz remembers all the sweet memories she had here with her grandmother when she was a child.  It has been years since she was last here, but it looks just as it did when she was 10.  They follow the one lane road into the park and find a picnic spot in the woods next to the lake.  The air is nippy in the shade, but the sun is warm. (WEATHER 2-3) Leaves on the trees are starting to turn color and it’s rippling reflection on the lake is beautiful. (WEATHER 4) The sun filters through the golden leaves creating a magical atmosphere. Liz takes in a deep breath of the cool fall air, letting it refresh her from the long week.  Nature always has a way of healing her.  She and Josh carry the pumpkins they have brought to carve to their picnic spot and enthusiastically get to work on this seasonal treat.

 

After a little work, Josh pulls the top of his pumpkin off and seeds fly everywhere.  Next, he goes for the spoon to scrap out the pumpkin guts when Liz says, “Don’t you want to just shove your hand into that slimy, goopey stuff? It feels so cool!” (SLIME/ TEXT 3)

 

“No, not really.” Josh responds hesitantly. “We haven’t carved pumpkins in a long time at home, so I can’t honestly say I’ve missed the feeling of slimy pumpkin guts.”

 

“It’s the best part about carving a pumpkin, getting messy! You’ve got to try!” Liz encourages. 

             

With a reluctant look on his face, he slowly lowers his hand into the pumpkin and pulls out a juicy handful.  He obviously doesn’t like it very much, but he goes along with it because she is so excited about squishy pumpkin stuff.  Pumpkin carving was such a special part of Liz’s childhood and reminds her of home. (HOME 1) Sometimes she forgets that her family has some quirky traditions that not everyone keeps.  Josh's family doesn’t do as much together as Liz’s does and sometimes it seems odd to him how close her family is to one another. (HOME 2) 

 

Once they are finished with carving, Josh says with a smirk, “I drew my inspiration from Van Ghoul. Like it?” (*INTELLIGENCE) 

 

Liz laughs, “Very clever, Josh!  The resemblance of Starry Night is very clear,” she jokes back. 

 

They go down to the lake and wash off the pumpkin goo that has now dried on their arms and Josh picks out a couple clumps that have stuck in Liz’s hair. (HAIR) They relax in a hammock for a little and play I-Spy before heading back to town to see go see a ballet performance.  Josh had said that it would be fun if Liz decided the plans for the day.  So she took advantage and planned to go the ballet; he may be regretting saying that now.  They pack everything back up into his rusty red mustang and head to the show. (TRANS)

​

****

​

The sun in low in the sky, causing the buildings downtown to cast large shadows as they walk to the theatre. (LIGHT 3) Josh makes sure to walk on the outside of Rue to protect her from people who come up to ask for money. (*FMV) Without the sun, the brisk air turns cold, so Liz and Josh duck into Starbucks to grab a warm treat. (WEATHER 4) Once Liz and Josh make it to the theatre, they find their seats and join the many eyes waiting for the curtain to be drawn. (EYES) The performance is not an ordinary ballet, luckily for Josh.  Though it is a ballet company, the show consists of contemporary, upbeat dancing that even Josh is able to enjoy.  Though going to a ballet isn’t his first choice, it’s okay since he can hold Liz’s hand the whole time.  (BODY 4) In fact, he doesn’t want it to end because that will mean their day together is almost done.  But, like all things that go up, the curtain comes down leaving Liz and Josh only a couple hours more.

 

Once they make it back to the car, Josh suggests, “Why don’t we go watch the airplanes take off for little?”  He knows how much she loves to lay outside and look at the stars and the moon. 

 

“Let’s do!” Liz replies. “But only for a little while, I don’t want you to be tried on the road tonight.”  

 

Since neither of them know the area very well, Liz fumbles with her iPhone to pull up directions to the airport overlook so that she can help Josh get there. (TECH) The view of the airport is beautiful in the night. Lights flicker and make patterns like a glowing piece of art in front of them. (GLOW/ LIGHTS 4) Josh brings out another fuzzy blanket to wrap Liz in since she gets cold so easily and the night is quite cool. (WEATHER 5/ TEXT 4/COVER) He takes off his jacket and lays it over her legs to make sure she’s warm. (OBJECT) They lie together, Liz snuggled up with her head on his chest as they look for shooting stars in the clear, sparkly night sky. (SKY/BODY 5) Down below, at the airport, they watch an airplane land and people stream out of the tiny hatch. (*HATCH) Another plane takes off and its jets rumble loudly overhead.  Josh and Liz make up stories about the people on the planes and where they are headed, trying not to think about how fast the time has flown by. (AERIAL) They both keep telling themselves just a few more minutes, but it’s almost time for them to part their separate ways.  Though they live far apart, they are at home together lying in the cool grass in the moonlight. (TEXT 5/ LIGHT 5).