For the Trifecta Anniversary Challenge, teams of two are competing by completing a short story using this prompt as as the beginning:
Charts and optimal dates and preferential temperatures. One line or two. As if she could summon whatever it is that makes up the human soul as easily as she could a cab on a busy New York avenue.
On Monday, Nancy at Spirit Lights The Way, posted the following awesome segment (in blue). My conclusion follows in black.
Charts and optimal dates and preferential temperatures. One line or two. As if she could summon whatever it is that makes up the human soul as easily as she could a cab on a busy New York avenue.
Deirdre stared at the steady stream of urine, hands shaking as she readied to take the plunge.
Now.
The cascading stream divided, water parting to flow with seamless effort around the intruding stick. If only life flowed around all obstacles with such ease.
Enough.
Deirdre withdrew the saturated stick, her fate held in trembling hands.
One line or two. One line or two. C’mon. C’mon. C’mon.
One line or . . .
Cal slammed into the bathroom. Deirdre flinched and dropped the stick. She watched it tumble away.
“Well . . . are you pregnant or not?”
“Not,” Deidre murmured, slumping to the floor. She grabbed the white stick.
Cal glared. “Next month, or I’m filing for divorce.”
Deidre stared at her clutched fist until his shadow disappeared. Footsteps clomped. She didn’t exhale until the front door slammed.
***
Deidre unzipped the packed suitcase stowed under the bed. She removed the signed divorce papers and tossed them onto Cal’s pillow.
I left you a long time ago, Cal.
One more look at the stick. Two lines. She zipped her suitcase, secret inside, and walked out the door without a backwards glance.
I love it! Thanks for a Stellar Ending to the story, Janna.
I can’t help but feel that Deirdre is making the right choice . . . first get the divorce and THEN let the cat out of the bag.
It follows a great beginning, Nancy 🙂 It was a pleasure collaborating on this one! I think she made the right choice as well. Boy will be surprised…
Love your ending!
Thanks, Tori! I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Oh snap! >__< He'd learn the truth soon enough for sure! I guess he'll be paying for his terrible treatment of her literally and figuratively 😛 lol
Oh yes, he will pay, Draug! He just might be sorry he was such a jerk 🙂
Loved both parts. Great story!
Thanks, Tessa! It was a fun joint effort and I’m happy with how it turned out. I was nervous about the challenge, but it ended up being ‘no big deal’. *Whew* 🙂
I loved it – I really did.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, Ruby. Thanks for reading 🙂
You two did an awesome job with this one. Nancy set you up with an interesting scenario, and you finished it with a surprise conclusion, leaving the reader eager to hear “the rest of the story.” Great collaboration!
Thanks, Debbie. This was the first collaborative effort and it was a good experience. I’m glad you stopped by to read it!
I am loving all these surprise endings. *Great* job!
Thanks, Christine! I appreciate you reading it.
Loved this ending! Well done.
I wanted her to be able to leave on her own terms – not his. I’m glad you liked the ending, Tara.
What a range of emotions this brings the reader through. Well done!
I appreciate you reading, Mel. Thanks!
Yea! I LOVE that she burned that jerk. AND had it all planned ahead. ‘Twas perfect.
She was prepared, that’s for sure. Glad you liked her plan, Gina!
ohh nice.. She made a wise choice.
Only thing wiser would’ve been to leave sooner (but that’s just me :)) Thanks for reading, Deanabo!
Awesome! I love this Janna, you and Nancy did a great job!
I’m happy you enjoyed the story, Rachael. It was a blast to write!
Good job on this! My mind was befuddled at the prompt, thanks for clearing it up for me!
You know, I didn’t catch the meaning of the prompt the first few times I read it. Nancy’s beginning and another read cleared it up for me 🙂 Thanks for reading, Patti.
nicely done, you two. 🙂 (and as draug says – *snap!)
Thanks, Barbara! Cal thought he held the cards, but not the case 🙂
Both of you did a great job! I love that ending – you’re very clever 🙂
Thanks Dianne! Glad you enjoyed the story. Nancy and I went back and forth on the ending and finally got to something that we both liked 🙂
Nicely done, Team. And it flows seamlessly and beautifully!
I’m glad it flows well, Joanne. Its my first collaborative effort…and it was fun 🙂
smart girl! no need for a jerk like that. a very excellent response to the challenge!
Better late than never (to get away from a jerk) 🙂 Thanks for reading, Renada!
Great story and great ending. I’m really glad she’s going to keep the secret for a while, at least. But I want to read the part where he finds out! It will serve him right.
Hehehe…I have a feeling he will not be pleased when he finds (which would make it a fun read, Lumdog!)
Cal is SUCH a tool. He doesn’t deserve that baby. So glad you ended it that way. Nice job, Janna.
He’s selfish, so I doubt he’d make a good father anyway, ODNT. The baby has a fighting chance to thrive without him.
Zipping the suitcase with the secret inside. Nice touch. Congratulations.
Thanks so much for reading, Kymmm. This challenge has been fun!
Great ending. Would love to hear what happens when the louse finds out.
Thanks for sharing.
I doubt he’d be nice about it 🙂 Thank you for taking time to read and share your thoughts, Diane!
Great job, the both of you! I pacing of the story and the twist at the end. Wonderful tag-team writing!
Thanks, Sandra. I’m really glad you enjoyed the story. We may not have won the challenge, but we had a great time playing along 🙂
Ooooo. Sneaky! I wish we could get just one more instalment so I could see how it all works out. Thanks so much for joining up and helping us celebrate our anniversary.
The anniversary challenge was fun. Thanks for planning it for us 🙂
This was fantastic – Both segments contained terrific surprising twists.
Thanks for reading, Kelly!
Loved it!!
Aw, thanks, Mairzeebp. Glad you liked it!
oohhhhh….. when a man’s like that….
The two of you made an excellent response to the prompt. 🙂
Yeah, this guy was a jerk all right! A little justice got served, I think. Thanks for reading it, Imelda.