writefiction (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
writefiction) wrote2009-01-13 11:33 am
writefiction) wrote2009-01-13 11:33 am
Entry tags:
Turning Life into Fiction
Real People Exercise #4 from: Turning Life into Fiction by Robin Hemley
Write a scene from the point of view of someone famous whose life you know fairly well. Don't dwell so much in the scene on what made them famous, but on what made them ordinary, on the particulars of his life.
"Zac!" my mother's voice calls from the front of the tour bus. But I ignore the cry of my name, focused solely on the video game I'm playing.
"Zachary!" she calls out sharply. The way she had said my name was a definite warning that I should at least respond.
I hit the pause button on my controller and stick my head out from behind the privacy curtain that had been hiding me in my bunk.
"Yeah, Ma?" I call out to her, finally noticing the sounds of a screaming baby.
"Come get Zoe!" she shouts to me.
I sigh, turning off my video game, and obediently make my way to my mom. When I reach her, she hands over my screaming baby sister and a bottle of warm milk.
"She needs a feeding," my mom explains. "But I have to go get Mac and Avery as I've just been notified that they're not letting any of the crew set up. And you know how your father is; he wants them back on the bus until it's time for sound check." I nod along to what she's saying as I gently bounce my baby sister in my arms.
"No problem, Mom. I got this covered." My mom smiles appreciatively.
"Thanks, Sweetie, I won't be long. And Zoe will probably go right to sleep when she's finished." I nod again.
"Go. We'll be fine," I tell her. She kisses me on the cheek and turns on her heel, fleeing the bus.
I take my fussing sister back to my bunk and climb inside. I cradle her to me like I'd been taught with my other younger siblings and rub the bottle's nipple against her lips. Zoe's mouth opens wide and surrounds her bottle, sucking happily.
I stare down at my sister as she eats. Her cute little button nose and pink chubby cheeks. I think she's the cutest out of all my younger sisters. But maybe it's because I'm just now old enough to appreciate the miracles of life and babies.
Zoe finishes her bottle, looking drowsy, before my mom gets back with the other kids. I put my baby sister up to my shoulder, making sure I'm all covered by a burp cloth. Then I alternate between patting and rubbing her back until she burps loudly. I smile at her as I wipe the excess milk from her face.
"You take after me in the burp department, don't you?" I ask her. Zoe blinks slowly, then yawns. I cuddle her close, leaning back against my pillow. "It's okay," I murmur, "we don't have to talk. You just sleep." Then I begin to sing her a slow, sweet lullaby that my mom has always sang to each new baby that enters this family.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."
Soon, I hear little baby snores signaling my sister is asleep. I smile and kiss Zoe's soft hair.
"Sleep well, little sister."
[the][end]
Write a scene from the point of view of someone famous whose life you know fairly well. Don't dwell so much in the scene on what made them famous, but on what made them ordinary, on the particulars of his life.
"Zac!" my mother's voice calls from the front of the tour bus. But I ignore the cry of my name, focused solely on the video game I'm playing.
"Zachary!" she calls out sharply. The way she had said my name was a definite warning that I should at least respond.
I hit the pause button on my controller and stick my head out from behind the privacy curtain that had been hiding me in my bunk.
"Yeah, Ma?" I call out to her, finally noticing the sounds of a screaming baby.
"Come get Zoe!" she shouts to me.
I sigh, turning off my video game, and obediently make my way to my mom. When I reach her, she hands over my screaming baby sister and a bottle of warm milk.
"She needs a feeding," my mom explains. "But I have to go get Mac and Avery as I've just been notified that they're not letting any of the crew set up. And you know how your father is; he wants them back on the bus until it's time for sound check." I nod along to what she's saying as I gently bounce my baby sister in my arms.
"No problem, Mom. I got this covered." My mom smiles appreciatively.
"Thanks, Sweetie, I won't be long. And Zoe will probably go right to sleep when she's finished." I nod again.
"Go. We'll be fine," I tell her. She kisses me on the cheek and turns on her heel, fleeing the bus.
I take my fussing sister back to my bunk and climb inside. I cradle her to me like I'd been taught with my other younger siblings and rub the bottle's nipple against her lips. Zoe's mouth opens wide and surrounds her bottle, sucking happily.
I stare down at my sister as she eats. Her cute little button nose and pink chubby cheeks. I think she's the cutest out of all my younger sisters. But maybe it's because I'm just now old enough to appreciate the miracles of life and babies.
Zoe finishes her bottle, looking drowsy, before my mom gets back with the other kids. I put my baby sister up to my shoulder, making sure I'm all covered by a burp cloth. Then I alternate between patting and rubbing her back until she burps loudly. I smile at her as I wipe the excess milk from her face.
"You take after me in the burp department, don't you?" I ask her. Zoe blinks slowly, then yawns. I cuddle her close, leaning back against my pillow. "It's okay," I murmur, "we don't have to talk. You just sleep." Then I begin to sing her a slow, sweet lullaby that my mom has always sang to each new baby that enters this family.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."
Soon, I hear little baby snores signaling my sister is asleep. I smile and kiss Zoe's soft hair.
"Sleep well, little sister."
[the][end]