Matthew Kirkpatrick Reading

            Last Wednesday I attended the Matthew Kirkpatrick reading. Not knowing what to expect I went in with an open mind and was completely blown away by his witty writing. While he did not say very much about his stories or how he came to write them he did share that his one tale was based off working for a rather corrupt cell phone company.

            At first I was a little confused by the very abstract style of his first piece that he read for us and frankly was not especially enjoying myself. Yet his second story about working for the cell phone company completely made up for it. Filled with very ironic humor, the story pointed out the corruption in the office in an almost oblivious manner that really worked. I could really picture an office where the employees lazily shuffle papers and secretly hate their job and everyone around them.

            Another rather unconventional aspect of the reading that I believe everyone really enjoyed was the fact that Matthew Kirkpatrick’s parents attended the reading. Having never read his work to them before, he would just smirk and apologize before every inappropriate or vulgar line. This definitely added some humor to the entire situation that everyone (including his parents) got a kick out of.  

            It was really neat to hear him talk about how he worked a very stereotypical office job for years only to give it up in order to pursue writing as a profession. Matthew was also very relatable since he himself graduated from Penn State. I am really glad that it worked out that I attended this reading because I truly enjoyed it and wish to read more of Matthew Kirkpatrick’s work. 

Playing God

            Elizabeth raced up the cracked steps in front of her brick dorm building. Frantically, she pulled her swipe card out of her crinkled leather bag with speed she has previously thought impossible. As the door clicked open she dashed through the lobby and into the dingy back staircase.

            Taking a moment to pant against the slick, white wall on the second landing, Elizabeth’s fierce blue eyes fixated on the door ahead. Keep a head on your shoulders, try not to panic. This proved to be easier said that done as Elizabeth approached the door apprehensively. Her sweat drenched palm weakly pulled open the door and Elizabeth slinked into the dimly lit hallway.

            Fluorescent lights buzzed in the ceiling as she came closer and closer to her room. She knew there was not enough time to contact the police. She needed to get her roommate, Alison out of their room before Donna showed up. Placing her hand on the outside of her door, Elizabeth gave a gentle push to find Alison sitting serenely on her bed with her laptop.

            “Alison, please do not ask any questions yet but grab your wallet now. We need to get out of here,” Elizabeth said urgently. With a startled look on her face, Alison jumped out of her bed.

            “Lizzy, what do you mean? What is going on,” Alison’s brown eyes widened in nervousness.

            “I cannot explain right now but please we need to leave. Now.” Elizabeth spoke through gritted teeth as she grabbed Alison’s wallet for her.

            As the pair turned toward the door a familiar face was planted in their path. Donna pushed the door shut behind herself as Elizabeth backed up dragging Alison with her as far towards the window of their room as possible. A warm breeze floated through the room and contrasted sharply with the short, panting breaths Elizabeth could not help but have.

            “Donna, What is going on,” Alison asked, laughing nervously.

            “Your roommate knows exactly what is going on, Alison,” Donna stated in a monotone voice as she slowly inched toward them.  “Your roommate is trying to frame me for something that I absolutely did not and would not do. She is trying to get me fired and I won’t have it.”

            Elizabeth was panic stricken. She wasn’t going to argue with a crazy woman and her mind had gone oddly numb as she began to shake while still holding Alison in a death grip with her left hand. As she began to release her sweaty palm Donna reached a hand into her baggy jean pocket. Elizabeth barely heard the bang as she instantly crumbled to the floor in a heap. Alison’s screams were the last thing she heard and her room to a muddy haze and finally to complete blackness. 

Flash fiction

            Turning the slick, linoleum corner I could feel my heart pounding as I ran up the dirty steps. Reaching the top I glanced both ways before ducking into the closest classroom before I was caught.

            The sun rushed through my curtains like a tide.  It was the first day of ninth grade. Everyone sees high school as this time to recreate oneself but I knew better. Once a socially awkward mathlete, always a socially awkward mathlete. Today would be no different than anything I had experienced before. Tying the laces on my New Balance sneakers and hoisting my pink Jansport onto my back, I greeted the September sun with apprehension.

            Arriving at school was a confusing blur and suddenly I was seated at the back of my homeroom class. I spotted Jennifer at the front of the classroom. I gulped and thought to myself you knew this was coming, Sarah. Jennifer and I had been in classes together since first grade and I was terrified of her. She had bullied me to within an inch of my life and I have always allowed her to. From my plain clothes to my stringy hair I was nothing next to her natural good looks and admiration from all of those around her.

            Thankfully we did not encounter each other during homeroom but my lunch break was an entirely different story. Weaving my confused way through the crowd of students I felt like I had been pitched into a black hole. I turned a corner desperately wishing for a familiar face. I immediately regretted this wish as I came face to face with Jennifer. “Oh Hey, Sarah.” Jennifer said in her sweetest voice. “I see you really spent the summer improving your image. Those frumpy jeans are really in right now.” I could feel the sweat forming between my fingers and the blue plastic tray I was carrying. I noticed a few passerby students eying our interaction and something came over me.

            I placed my tray on the table behind and turned to face her. Looking Jennifer right in the eyes I simultaneously tipped her plastic cup of chocolate pudding onto her white blouse. Her mouth dropped in disbelief. “Well at least my frumpy jeans don’t look like they have shit all over them.” I said. A feeling of pride for standing up for myself swelled up inside me until I realized I could really get in trouble for this. Omg what did I just do? I once again spun around but this time it was to dash out of the cafeteria.

            I’m not sure where I believe I was going to hide but I needed to leave. Taking solace in an empty classroom I was eventually summoned over the loudspeaker from my next class. While I did get a week’s worth of detention and a reputation for trouble on my first day of high school. I realized I had rescued myself from years of simply putting up with someone’s unfair taunts. 

Blog ten

Blinking in the late afternoon sunlight, I slid my Oakley sunglasses onto my tanned face. Locating my Ford Explorer in the parking lot of my apartment building and clicking the button on my keychain, I’m lost in thought. Anxious nerves course through my body as I hop into the leather seat and start the engine. What could they possibly have done? My thoughts race as I slowly glide out of the parking lot and merge into the busy street.

        Remaining preoccupied, I drive through the familiar streets that I’ve traveled a hundred times before. Reaching the Wallmart parking lot I drive behind the vast building and past the loading docks behind the store. Squinting in the harsh light I can spot Brianna’s red Subaru parked in the spot where we have congregated so many times before. Lately they have used the spot as a place to collect beer money from each other but it was once a place to discuss crucial matters such as the newest NSync CD.

        Brianna and Kim hop out of the car as I killed the engine and unbuckled my seatbelt. “What is going on, guys?” I said immediately upon pushing the door open. Glancing nervously at one another, Brianna finally speaks up. “We have to show you in person.” She states flatly. “Leave your car here. I can drive.” Kim turns to get back in the car and I begin to get angry. “Whoa. Wait a minute. Can you just tell me what the hell is going on?” I stand completely still with my hand on my hips. They both freeze and then slowly turn around again. “No we can’t. Please just trust us and get in the car.” I sigh and follow them knowing that I don’t have any other choice.

        I roll down the back window and let the humid air wash over me. “You guys are really scaring me.” I say while staring at the backs of their heads.  Kim shrugs her shoulders and turns up the volume of the radio. My frustration is escalating and I finally start to pay attention to where we are going. Brianna made a right out of the parking lo and began driving out of town. Even more confused I cross my arms and try to stop myself from yelling at them.

        As we drive further and further into the rural areas surrounding our town the silence and confusion becomes excruciating.  We finally pull into a gravel driveway and Brianna kills the engine.  Surrounded by trees, I can see a house ahead of us. We climb out and begin walking toward the chipped front door. “This is my Aunt’s house.” Kim states. They both still look extremely grim and nothing but my utmost trust in our friendship is propelling my feet forward. Kim removes a key from her purse and clicks the old lock open. We plunge into the darkness and all of the sudden lights explode in front of my eyes. “SURPRISE!” Reverberates from dozens of voices surrounding me. Kim and Brianna laugh and hug me. “Gotcha!” Brianna giggles knowing that she had me completely fooled. Only my best friends would scare the living hell out of me before throwing me a surprise birthday party.  

Elevator

Elevator

Glossy, slick doors

Gliding across its rusted tracks

Blinking, fluorescent lights

Linoleum tiles, littered with crumpled trash

Graffiti scrawled across the dirty walls

Feeling trapped in a situation or relationship

Blinking lights represent indecision and questioning

Graffiti on the walls displays drunken indiscretion

Glossy slick doors welcoming you into something that is not what is seems

Crumpled trash represents wasted thoughts and ideas. 

Formalist poem

I cannot find it anywhere I look.

I search and search to no avail at all.

Not even in the pages of a book,

Or at the icy tops of mountains tall.

What is it I am looking for you ask?

Well it is happiness I suppose.

Its acquisition is no easy task,

Anyone who has searched for it knows.

Maybe this search is not what we all need.

The search could be what confuses us more.

That it is in ourselves we do not heed,

We turn this journey into a vast chore.

Try if you wish, cannot be taught or learned.

Rather acquired with wisdom and earned.

I chose to write a sonnet for this blog because I felt that it would be an interesting and beneficial challenge. I have honestly never really attempted to write formal poetry before so I felt that a sonnet would be a good place to start. I struggled with the poem sounding cliche due to the rhymes but I can imagine this is a struggle for anyone writing a sonnet. Since I am considering writing a sonnet for my formal workshop poem I felt that this blog would be a good exercise to teach myself writing in this manner. 

Book Thief Panel Reaction

            After attending The Book Thief panel last Tuesday I am extremely anxious to read the book myself over spring break! My favorite part was being exposed to the background of the book and how it came to be published. When she first read it, the publisher from Knopf fell in love with the novel but was very apprehensive when she first was told of the storyline. She enjoyed it so much that she even felt that there was very little editing to do which is rare.

            As for the marketing of the novel, it was really great to hear the publisher say that both she and the author agreed that to publish the novel as Adult Fiction would be to underestimate and shortchange young adults who they felt could handle the heavy elements of the story. They felt that the element of hope in the novel would make it perfect for young adults despite the fact that it is a holocaust novel told from the point of view of death. It was also really nice to hear that they did this despite opposition from the Australian publisher. This also occurred with the original illustrations of the novel that were commissioned by the author himself. The publisher informed us that illustrations are typically controlled by the editors and publishers, but she felt that the originals really contributed to the novel. It was interesting to learn of all of these marketing techniques and how they were trying to publish something that would appeal to teen boys and it has now become a best seller and popular with all ages and genders.

            Prior to this I never realized how much thought and strategy goes into publishing these novels. The Book Thief’s publisher even told us that in England the exact same book was published as Adult and Young Adult Fiction but with different covers as though they were different in order to appeal to the different demographics.