I still can't believe it's the 4th of July, 2022. Sometimes I feel like we never left 2021. But here's to the freedom we have to travel, worship, speak, and express love to each other without fear. Hundreds of thousands will gather to watch colorful explosions lighting up the night and spend time with family and friends. It's a reminder that we are truly blessed to live in a country where we have more freedom than most.
And this year, while I spend the 4th with my mother, I'm reflecting on all the memories we made in Hawaii. Beach photos are some of my favorites.
The past few beach trips, I've made a little tradition. I buy a dress at the charity where I volunteer and ask hubs to take beach pics of me for drawing reference. This picture gave me an idea for another "Plots from Image" post.
Here we go: ten scenarios to answer the question "Who is watching the subject?"
An ex-boyfriend who followed her to Hawaii without her knowing
An old man who thinks she looks like his deceased granddaughter
A mutated stray cat carrying a DNA-altering super virus, released by an organization who has a grudge against the woman's family
A little girl in a wheelchair who dreams of a day she might be able to bend over and pick up shells, too
Her sociopathic sister who is mulling over the reasons why the world would be better if she was an only child
A shy local with a preference for pale skin, though his family would disapprove
The woman's grandmother, taking candid shots for a memorial service since she has only two weeks to live
A boy's pet mongoose who got out of its yard
A local resort worker who fell in love with her after he served her dinner
A baby sea turtle, just hatched and struggling to get to the water
Any of these could become a short story or novel, and several hint at a genre/familiar tropes. For the next ten levels deep, I'll choose #5: Her sociopathic sister who is mulling over reasons the world would be better without her.
Having grown up in close contact with a sociopath, I know how hurtful and damaging those relationships can be. Maybe I can interject some humor into this fictitious situation? Here we go, ten more steps to answer the question "What happens next?"
SS (sociopathic sister) gets so caught up in justifying murder that beach sister notices her and asks her to join in her hunt for seashells
Beach sister turns and says, "I know you didn't think I would have a panic attack when you put that crab on my chest, so I forgive you."
SS starts drawing an elaborate murder plan in the sand with a stick, and beach sis comes over and compliments her art
Beach sister notices SS staring and says, "Hey, you might want to put on some sunscreen, or that scowl will give you weird tan lines."
Beach sister throws a shell to SS, but SS is too lost in thought, and it hits her in the face
SS walks over to push beach sis in the water but ends up tripping over a rock
Just as SS takes a step closer, a wet and sandy dog runs by and shakes grime all over SS
A random guy asks SS who the pretty woman is on the beach, and SS punches him
SS's four-year-old runs past her to join his aunt in hunting seashells
A wave soaks beach sister's dress. SS laughs, but beach sis strips it off and laughs along
After writing these down, I don't think I could handle turning any of these into a Reedsy prompt. It's too tempting to make fun of the sociopath and have them feel some kind of remorse. In other words, it would be unrealistic, hah. Never expect an apology from a sociopath.
I may go back to the first ten scenarios and pick one for a contest prompt. If I finish the story, I'll post it here.
Keep on smilin'!
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