[Summer Contest Entry 2015] Creative Curve
4
Creative Curve
It was 16:43. An evening of a quiet boy scratching his pencil to blank canvas is my perfect description. My name is Seiman Winston, age 17. I live alone along with the rent money that's sent to me every month by my grandparents. It's an ideal life if you never had interest in people. As far as things go, I really don't have much interest in anything other than drawing, and… well, there's Sera. Sera has been a close friend ever since late elementary school. Her and I had a talent for drawing which kept our conversations constant but brief. When my parents died in a car accident about 6 years ago, she never stopped her routine in seeing me at lunch break. You could say she felt sorry. She had a fun yet comforting side of her. Which was the only thing I chose to remember back then.
Which brings me to the present. Her “fun” side enjoys shouting at me from the streets sidewalk almost everyday. I can’t say I like it, but it's growing on me, I think.
“Ohhhh Seimannn!” shouts Sera.
About time. I was beginning to think she forgot today…
“Yes, yes, I'll be right out.” I said as I was touching up my last sketch.
“I have a phone, just so you know.” I added on.
“Mom said to hold your hand!” Sera shouted.
“W-why she insisted on that?!”
Her mom seems to think we're dating. Seeing as we've been hanging out ever since childhood, I can understand, and truthfully wouldn't mind… But the way she said it seems like I'm still a kid.
“Who knows? Oh! Mom brought home extra pasta tonight, want to stay for dinner?”
“Sure, wouldn't miss it!” I said proudly
“I'm sure she would've liked to here that.” Sera laughed while looking at her phone.
“Hey, you need to hurry! Dad will be home soon.”
Her dad has worked on projects for T.V. stations regarding rough draft sketching and animating. Although his priorities are in animation. He still loves to sketch and has been helping Sera and myself with drawing every since we were young.
Sera's parents were divorced a while back. Due to his job, he wasn't home often, which lead to their separation. He only arrives at the house on weekends and holidays. To Sera and I, this is like a holiday.
“On my way!” I said as I threw everything into my bag and headed downstairs.
I stopped for a moment right before the last steps. It's at this angle I'm always reminded of the empty spaces, and lack of noise that fills my house. It's too quiet it almost hurts.
“I need more furniture…” I said as I closed the front door.
“So ya ready?” Sera said.
“I am always-” I said as I shrugged off my thoughts and began running.
“That's not fair! We never started a countdown!” Sera replied puffing up her face of that similar to a child when taking their candy.
“I'm the one carrying materials, at least give me that much!” I couldn’t help but laugh at that excuse. She cheats all the time, she should lend me this one.
“No dinner!” She quickly replied.
“That's up to your parents!” I said with insurance.
As the bantering continued, we were almost in line-of-sight of Sera's house. I can see an extra car in the drive way. It doesn't seem familiar.
“Did your parents get a new car?” I asked when catching breath.
“It’s my step-dads.” She replied.
I never had the thought that her mom was in a relationship. Aside from that, the tone in Sera's voice abruptly changed into disappointment. When we reached the steps of her house I couldn’t help but ask why she seemed down.
“Do you not like your step dad?” I calmly asked.
“I do, but I don't think my dad will be home today.” She replied.
As we entered her house, her mom greeted us from down the hall as her voice echoed from the kitchen.
“Welcome home you two!” Her mom announced.
After our usually greetings, Sera's expression remained unchanged as she went to see her mom. I grabbed a seat in the living room and began to draw. After overhearing their conversation, I was able to pull out that; Sera stayed longer after school due to an absent committee member, and was in charge of cleaning one of the classrooms. Because of that, she had not received the news that her father couldn't make it due to work, and went to my house after.
About half an hour later, we gathered around the dining table as Sera introduced me to her step dad.
“Seiman, this is my step dad, Lance.”
“It's good to meet you, Lance.” I replied.
“Likewise, heard a lot about you!”
Throughout the evening, Lance seems to have a strong personality. The type of people who present story boards in meetings, or make speeches at gatherings. Between him and everyone at the table, he seemed to talk more. Which kept our replies short for the most part.
“So how's your family, Seiman? Lance asked.
“…uh.”
I stopped my movements when hearing his question. That question is normal, but I couldn't answer as quickly as I was hoping. His pattern of speech was aggressive which, again, kept our replies short.
“They…” I murmured.
“Looking after them I hope! You seem like a strong kid.”
“Well, they-”
“Have they seen your drawings? I'm sure your dad probably helped with those.”
With no room to answer, I was content to hearing the rest of his own conversation. I glanced at Sera for a moment to see that her head was down as she replied with a cracking voice. Almost sounded as if she was crying.
“Shut up..” Sera said.
“Everything okay?” Lance kindly asked.
With the atmosphere suddenly flipped, I was at lost for words. Is she crying? Truthfully, it's not often I see new people. So questions like that don't surface.
With only so much questions I can ask myself in little time, Sera stood up and darted down the hall.
“I'm sorry…” said Sera.
Me and Lance sat there in slight agreement to the situation.
“Is everything okay??” Lance asked in confusion.
“I'm not sure.” I replied.
With the evening ending sooner than expected, I grabbed my belongings and said my goodbyes. There's not much I can do if I don’t know what's happening. True, those questions of his were different but not in-ordinary. Was Sera mad? I couldn't escape that thought. I know for a fact she would stand up for me in a heart beat but-
As my mind was searching all questions, a gentle hand after a brief stop of running grabbed my shirt. I turned around to find Sera without shoes or a coat. Her breathing was short.
“Seiman… I…”
“Sera, at dinner why did-”
“I….”
“Huh…?”
“I killed… your parents.”
“Wha.. But that was-”
“When I crossed the street… I crossed... knowing it was red.”
“…”
“They swerved… they… missed me…” Sera said when dropping to the floor covering her face.
If I were to say I'm shocked, that puts it lightly. To see Sera, to see the girl I love, on the ground. Crying for my sake. It was never her fault. For her to keep this bottled up for 6 years was pointless. She was just a kid. Why did she have to hurt...
“I never…” I began to say.
Sera looked up after my words.
“I never want to see you cry.” I said as I collapsed with her.
“…B-but Seiman.”
“You’re an idiot.” I stated when I held her.
I can’t help but cry. I can't help but think what I'd do without Sera. I'm not happy over my parents deaths, I'm not happy to see Sera this way. It's true, I miss my parents. I miss my childhood with the family I never had. There's people in this life that don't get a second chance. My second chance is right in front of me. The one that sat with me through school, the one that enjoys drawing. My only friend.
It didn't dawn on me that we were in the middle of the sidewalk until a few minutes after.
“Seiman… I'm-”
“Sera, it's okay.” I calmly said when pulling out my sketch book and flipped through the pages.
“Are these…?” She questioned.
“You.” I answered.
It was 16:43. An evening of a quiet boy scratching his pencil to blank canvas is my perfect description. My name is Seiman Winston, age 17. I live alone along with the rent money that's sent to me every month by my grandparents. It's an ideal life if you never had interest in people. As far as things go, I really don't have much interest in anything other than drawing, and… well, there's Sera. Sera has been a close friend ever since late elementary school. Her and I had a talent for drawing which kept our conversations constant but brief. When my parents died in a car accident about 6 years ago, she never stopped her routine in seeing me at lunch break. You could say she felt sorry. She had a fun yet comforting side of her. Which was the only thing I chose to remember back then.
Which brings me to the present. Her “fun” side enjoys shouting at me from the streets sidewalk almost everyday. I can’t say I like it, but it's growing on me, I think.
“Ohhhh Seimannn!” shouts Sera.
About time. I was beginning to think she forgot today…
“Yes, yes, I'll be right out.” I said as I was touching up my last sketch.
“I have a phone, just so you know.” I added on.
“Mom said to hold your hand!” Sera shouted.
“W-why she insisted on that?!”
Her mom seems to think we're dating. Seeing as we've been hanging out ever since childhood, I can understand, and truthfully wouldn't mind… But the way she said it seems like I'm still a kid.
“Who knows? Oh! Mom brought home extra pasta tonight, want to stay for dinner?”
“Sure, wouldn't miss it!” I said proudly
“I'm sure she would've liked to here that.” Sera laughed while looking at her phone.
“Hey, you need to hurry! Dad will be home soon.”
Her dad has worked on projects for T.V. stations regarding rough draft sketching and animating. Although his priorities are in animation. He still loves to sketch and has been helping Sera and myself with drawing every since we were young.
Sera's parents were divorced a while back. Due to his job, he wasn't home often, which lead to their separation. He only arrives at the house on weekends and holidays. To Sera and I, this is like a holiday.
“On my way!” I said as I threw everything into my bag and headed downstairs.
I stopped for a moment right before the last steps. It's at this angle I'm always reminded of the empty spaces, and lack of noise that fills my house. It's too quiet it almost hurts.
“I need more furniture…” I said as I closed the front door.
“So ya ready?” Sera said.
“I am always-” I said as I shrugged off my thoughts and began running.
“That's not fair! We never started a countdown!” Sera replied puffing up her face of that similar to a child when taking their candy.
“I'm the one carrying materials, at least give me that much!” I couldn’t help but laugh at that excuse. She cheats all the time, she should lend me this one.
“No dinner!” She quickly replied.
“That's up to your parents!” I said with insurance.
As the bantering continued, we were almost in line-of-sight of Sera's house. I can see an extra car in the drive way. It doesn't seem familiar.
“Did your parents get a new car?” I asked when catching breath.
“It’s my step-dads.” She replied.
I never had the thought that her mom was in a relationship. Aside from that, the tone in Sera's voice abruptly changed into disappointment. When we reached the steps of her house I couldn’t help but ask why she seemed down.
“Do you not like your step dad?” I calmly asked.
“I do, but I don't think my dad will be home today.” She replied.
As we entered her house, her mom greeted us from down the hall as her voice echoed from the kitchen.
“Welcome home you two!” Her mom announced.
After our usually greetings, Sera's expression remained unchanged as she went to see her mom. I grabbed a seat in the living room and began to draw. After overhearing their conversation, I was able to pull out that; Sera stayed longer after school due to an absent committee member, and was in charge of cleaning one of the classrooms. Because of that, she had not received the news that her father couldn't make it due to work, and went to my house after.
About half an hour later, we gathered around the dining table as Sera introduced me to her step dad.
“Seiman, this is my step dad, Lance.”
“It's good to meet you, Lance.” I replied.
“Likewise, heard a lot about you!”
Throughout the evening, Lance seems to have a strong personality. The type of people who present story boards in meetings, or make speeches at gatherings. Between him and everyone at the table, he seemed to talk more. Which kept our replies short for the most part.
“So how's your family, Seiman? Lance asked.
“…uh.”
I stopped my movements when hearing his question. That question is normal, but I couldn't answer as quickly as I was hoping. His pattern of speech was aggressive which, again, kept our replies short.
“They…” I murmured.
“Looking after them I hope! You seem like a strong kid.”
“Well, they-”
“Have they seen your drawings? I'm sure your dad probably helped with those.”
With no room to answer, I was content to hearing the rest of his own conversation. I glanced at Sera for a moment to see that her head was down as she replied with a cracking voice. Almost sounded as if she was crying.
“Shut up..” Sera said.
“Everything okay?” Lance kindly asked.
With the atmosphere suddenly flipped, I was at lost for words. Is she crying? Truthfully, it's not often I see new people. So questions like that don't surface.
With only so much questions I can ask myself in little time, Sera stood up and darted down the hall.
“I'm sorry…” said Sera.
Me and Lance sat there in slight agreement to the situation.
“Is everything okay??” Lance asked in confusion.
“I'm not sure.” I replied.
With the evening ending sooner than expected, I grabbed my belongings and said my goodbyes. There's not much I can do if I don’t know what's happening. True, those questions of his were different but not in-ordinary. Was Sera mad? I couldn't escape that thought. I know for a fact she would stand up for me in a heart beat but-
As my mind was searching all questions, a gentle hand after a brief stop of running grabbed my shirt. I turned around to find Sera without shoes or a coat. Her breathing was short.
“Seiman… I…”
“Sera, at dinner why did-”
“I….”
“Huh…?”
“I killed… your parents.”
“Wha.. But that was-”
“When I crossed the street… I crossed... knowing it was red.”
“…”
“They swerved… they… missed me…” Sera said when dropping to the floor covering her face.
If I were to say I'm shocked, that puts it lightly. To see Sera, to see the girl I love, on the ground. Crying for my sake. It was never her fault. For her to keep this bottled up for 6 years was pointless. She was just a kid. Why did she have to hurt...
“I never…” I began to say.
Sera looked up after my words.
“I never want to see you cry.” I said as I collapsed with her.
“…B-but Seiman.”
“You’re an idiot.” I stated when I held her.
I can’t help but cry. I can't help but think what I'd do without Sera. I'm not happy over my parents deaths, I'm not happy to see Sera this way. It's true, I miss my parents. I miss my childhood with the family I never had. There's people in this life that don't get a second chance. My second chance is right in front of me. The one that sat with me through school, the one that enjoys drawing. My only friend.
It didn't dawn on me that we were in the middle of the sidewalk until a few minutes after.
“Seiman… I'm-”
“Sera, it's okay.” I calmly said when pulling out my sketch book and flipped through the pages.
“Are these…?” She questioned.
“You.” I answered.
1
Xenon
FAKKU Writer
This is a really cute story. There are some powerful emotions expressed between these characters and it's nice to see.
0
Nice! Not bad for a first story. Got a good range of emotions going on and I really enjoyed it. That being said, it could use a bit of polishing. I'd suggest trying to fix some of the tense inconsistencies and spelling errors. Doing so will definitely make this work shine brighter!
Hehehe... polishing... shine brighter... I made a pun!
Hehehe... polishing... shine brighter... I made a pun!
0
As I read the story, I have this growing feeling that something big, some sort of revelation or a twist, will happen in the end. Given that this is your first contest entry (perhaps your first short story), I must say you have a potential in drawing out the emotions of your characters through dialogue.
Don’t get upset by a lot of comments about the grammar lapses. Because first, there really are many, and second, we all went through that stage. Write and read. Read and write. I still have glitches myself, but it is only through practice that we can (rule the world and control the world economy) make things perfect.
Keep on writing (I’m also saying this to the man in the mirror). This section needs a lot of fresh writers.
Don’t get upset by a lot of comments about the grammar lapses. Because first, there really are many, and second, we all went through that stage. Write and read. Read and write. I still have glitches myself, but it is only through practice that we can (rule the world and control the world economy) make things perfect.
Keep on writing (I’m also saying this to the man in the mirror). This section needs a lot of fresh writers.
1
I'll look over it again. Thank you so much for your comment! Yes, more practice in this field won't hurt :)
0
I think you could have handled the stuff with Sera's father and whether or not he would be at dinner better. Stuff like that happens in real life, obviously. People make mistakes like that, or something happens they weren't expecting. But the way it happens in the story is a little jarring to read.