An author's battle against procrastination.
As some of you know, the holidays can be a stressful time and procrastination typically isn’t far behind. Family comes over or you’re going to your family. You might not even have family. Maybe you have family and you want nothing to do with them. Being conscious of that can raise your heart rate.
Continue reading “5 Things I Did to Battle Procrastination During my 2018 Holidays”
“Baby! I ain’t gon’ tell you again. Hurry up and get your narrow behind in the bed!”
Dion silently walked into the kitchen after his mother yelled loud enough to where the neighbors could hear, but not loud enough to embarrass Dion. Dion’s mother turned around from the counter where Christmas dinner was being prepared.
“Dion, what did I just say?”
Dion had a small piece of paper ripped out from a magazine folded neatly between his fingertips.
“What is it,” she asked with a softer voice.
A little over twelve minutes remained on the clock.
“How many minutes left?”
“Ten minutes. Maybe.”
Luther pressed his wristwatch for a ten minute timer. Luther stood at one side of the dark, damp stone cellar while James was ok the opposite end. Both were decked in military gear, covered in sweat and dirt. Luther stood upright, peeling off his gear, piece by piece. James crouched down, wringing his hands together.
“This will be the longest ten minutes of your life, boy,” Luther said, with a wry grin.
“These sweet potato fries are the best! Oh my goodness,” Jake said, carefully placing a small fry inside his mouth.
“Tell me about it,” Fran said as she stuffed a mouthful in her face. Her Brooklyn accent was present even as she chewed. Jake and Fran sat next to one another as they continuously grabbed more fries. Ofelia sat on the other side of the diner table in the side booth next to a large window. She carefully picked one and nibbled it. Jake and Fran paused for a moment while they chewed and looked at Ofelia, perched at the edge of her seat with a radiant, expectant smile.
“You gonna get in on this, or what,” Jake said with his mouth full of food.
“I already ate,” Ofelia said with a smile.
“Come on, O,” Fran said after swallowing. “It’s not often we’re all back at home like this. Let alone all of us at Vinny’s Diner.”
“Yeah. We always get sweet potato fries. Our favorite,” Jake chimes in.
“I’m not hungry,” Ofelia said with a quick shrug.
Fran and Jake looked at each other and shrugged before resuming their chow fest, remarking between chews and breaths on how delicious Vinny’s fries are. Occasionally, a puff of steam shot from their open mouths because it was right off the stove.
“So… notice anything different about me,” Ofelia said after a moment of silence and chewing.
“You look ridiculous, Tim,” Adam said.
“Oh, really? Have you seen yourself,” Tim asked sarcastically. “You look like a kid that couldn’t wait to dress himself after mommy gave him free rein to choose his identity.
“Dick,” Adam mumbled under his breath as he checked his clothes.
“Eh, you’ll get over it,” Tim said with a shrug. “This party looks lame.”
“Then why did you come here?”
“I’d prefer meeting someone then playing your stupid video games again,” Tim said, turning to him slowly. He held a pause to emphasize how serious he was through his sarcasm.
I’m on week 6 of 52. There were a few times where I was right under the wire for my deadline for Rockland’s 52 but, the last two weeks pushed some interesting work out of me.
When your back is against the wall, who are you?
Are you a writer?
Are you a good one? A great one?
“Excuse me, Ms. Barrett?”
“Yes, Kevin?”
“I don’t feel well. May I go to the bathroom,” Kevin asked.
Ms. Barrett smiled as she faced the chalkboard and paused. “No, Kevin. Walter and Matthew are already in the bathroom.
Jace Rockland 