Writers Duel!! Are you up for it?

[DaddyCat]

Their courage deems utmost respect
Their mission clear, our way protect

It’s sure to each what they must do
No give or take, keep freedom true

With the grand old flag, they'll unite
Whenever they must, march to fight

A life we know counts hard on them
Without their rank, hellish problem

If our Armed Forces ceased to be
How long could we survive as free

Let’s well realize the truthful score
We need our troops just like before

Boils down to this, words to engrave
Land of The Free, Due to The Brave

God Bless each one for being there
Their loved ones too, unending care

[DAYWALKER]

Just hours before you put this topic out for us,
I was in the 9 Words thread posting this poem:



Titled: Remains.....

Search Destroy Dangerous Blanket Attack Playground Metal Detail Precious

Just a single leaf
Catapulted my imagination
More than just a playground
of precious metals and memories
Just a single leaf
Falling before my very eyes
Bore a strange resemblance to
The descent of this worlds peace
Just a single leaf
Blankets the remainder of
The last spot uncovered upon
My tombstone where I now stand
Just a single leaf
Led me back to the scene
A mission of search and destroy
Failed dangerously upon the attack
Just a single leaf
Will be the last great detail
Of all things living that I once knew
I gave it all up for the love of my country
Just a single leaf
Remains


I just wanted to share this piece in here with you all,
but I do plan to submit a second post for this topic before the deadline.

Celebrating this Veterans day with fond remembrance, and great pride.

[ABbutch]

Awesome topic DC!
I'll be posting on this one.

[DaddyCat]

Thank You AB...

Thank you DAYWALKER
for sharing that poem with Us...
Looking forward to seeing what everyone writes...

Happy Veteran's and Remembrance Day to all...

[GemmeFemme]

Awesome topic, DC! I appreciate the leniency with the time frame too. I just found out today that I may have less than three weeks to completely renovate and move into a new apartment. The 's a tickin'....

[MiamiButch]

The price of freedom is paid in blood, so much of it lies mingled upon a forgotten battlefield,
Thier blood, our blood, it all runs red within us, and yet we still fight,
Fight for those who cannot cry out, for fear of retaliation, and so,
Silent graves pay quiet tribute for those who gave their lives so that we can know the joy of our freedom, costly as it may be, we fight for those who have been oppressed and censured,
Because there are so many who's voices have been silenced by the tyranny of others,
Let us not forget those who have fought for our country in the past,
All those who were not of native descent, all those who answered the call to arms unhesistatingly,
All those who faced their fears, the mothers, fathers, sisters, wives, sons and daughters who gave up their own so that our lives can be as they are now,
Nor let us turn away from those who face mortal danger defending our freedom now, where life is precious, fragile, and uncertain, where one moment there is laughter among friends, and in the next, the wailing of sirens, the bursts of gunfire, the explosion that tears life from limbs that once held onto life so dearly,
For they keep safe what we hold sacred, a trust we have lain upon them that we are honorbound not to break, because they fight for the principles that we all enjoy today, thanks to the sacrifices of those soldiers who have passed before, and who are now fighting for freedom,
Freedom to live, love, speak and think as we desire, without fear, with infinite hope, that perhaps one day, all will know this word, FREEDOM, and that not one more life be lost, nor no more blood need be shed to keep it safe.

[DaddyCat]

BUMP...
BUMP....
BUMP....

[BlueMoonWolf]

Okay going to freshen up my tea and pound this sucker out because it's really distracting me from putting up my christmas trees... yes plural.... I have 4 trees this year...I am going to have a forest!! BUT it's really distracting to put up a bell and off my mind goes putting a bell into the story that is already in my head.

BBL

Blue

[BlueMoonWolf]

It was the sound of breaking glass that did it. Hys girl was rushing around cursing her clumsiness, trying to pick up all of the shards of the broken ornament and talking a mile a minute about when and where she got that ornament. If the sound of breaking glass put hym on the plane it was the scent of blood when she cut her finger sent hym all the way back over there. Hy was physically still sitting in hys wheelchair in the middle of the living room trying to pretend it was like any other Christmas and that none of what happened went on at all. Mentally though hy was in that horrid desert again, breathing in sand, smoke and dirt. The smell of blood and gunpowder was washing over hym in suffocating waves. Hys body went on auto pilot to do the things hy knew needed to be done, he could observe but hy just wasn’t there.

Hy was in that tiny village hearing the screams of the women and children trying to get through the gates into the arms of what they thought were going to be their salvation. The gate was choked with people trying to get through. Some of hys unit were pulling people through but it wasn’t fast enough. The women and children were trapped between the gate and the rebel’s gun fire. Hy heard their men screaming for them and their howls of frustration at the iron fences holding them back. Hy could see the rebels standing in the bed of their truck laughing and jeering as they fired on the women and children. Hy cursed the order from some paper pushing pin head commander 1500 miles away that had put the men in the compound in an attempt to stave off this attack. Hy continued to fire at the rebels but since hys unit had not been given the green light for kill shots they were left with shooting ineffectually at the truck or over their heads. Someone had let the rebels know they would be safe if they stayed far enough away. In a hundred and ten degree heat, hy turned cold at the slaughter unfolding before hys eyes.

The ringing of the bell brought hys attention back to the real world. Hy forced hys body to move to kiss hys girl’s now bandaged finger and murmur the things hy knew he would say if hy was actually in his body. She stopped for a moment and looked at hym with her head tilted. She squeezed hys hand hard, she began to talk in a bright way; she was lighting his way home. She knew hy was gone and was doing all she could do to bring hym home. She smiled, laughed and touched hys body to try to reach the dark place hy had gone to. The ice that had formed deep in hys soul began to show signs of cracking under her loving bright light.

Hy felt the recoil of the gun on hys shoulder; hy could hear the woman screaming over the gunfire. She was trying to force her skin and bone body through the iron fence, her hands outstretched towards the child sitting on the ground crying in fear. Hy wasn’t conscious of the decision hy had made once he saw that little baby sitting in the road with puffs of dirt marking where the bullets were hitting. Everything had begun to happen in slow motion; hy looked to the guy on hys right without saying a word they knew what they were going to do. Hys buddy went down on all fours as close as he could to the fence; hy set is gun down beside hys buddy. Hy ran back to get a running start, hy stepped on hys buddy’s back as he gave hym the extra lift to get over the fence. Hy hit the ground running as the rebels noticed what hy was doing and began to fire at hym. Hy could hear his C.O. yelling at hym but it didn’t stop hym, hy just kept running. Hy snatched up the baby from the ground as hy turned to get back to the fence. Hy could see hys friend shooting back at the rebels as hy saw the bullets raising little clouds of dust around hym. It didn’t matter; all that mattered was reaching that fence. As hy reached the fence hys buddy was standing on someone else’s back to reach as hy lifted the baby over the fence. As soon as the baby was in safe hands, that is when hy felt the bullets enter hym. The pain was unbelievable as hy fell rolling to a stop against the fence as everything went dark.

The rest hy only saw in flashes. Realizing the blood on the baby was not only hys. Hys C.O. was yelling at hym as he pulled hym back inside the line. Hy could hear the mother screaming to help her baby. The medics telling hym to hang on… Hys girl’s face in tears. She was begging hym to stop and come back to her. It was her hot tears on hys skin that brought hym back. Hy had pulled her from their bed and pushed her against the wall Hy kept pulling at her to keep her down from the gunfire in hys mind. The dam broke in hym looking at her terrified eyes. Hy kept murmuring how sorry hy was as hy kissed her making sure that hy had not hurt her. Hy helped her back into bed as hy checked her again to make sure hy had not hurt her. The black shadow in the back of hys mind whispered the insidious thought that hy may not have hurt her this time but what about next time?

She held hym and wondered when her solider was going to come home.

[DaddyCat]

What fantastic writing BMW...
I love how you were able to discribe
PTSD in this story...
Again, FANTASTIC

Now I have a question for everyone...
What do you all think about Me extending the deadline
for a week to give everyone a chance to
write their story?
I know everyone has been busy with the
holidays and all... that will make it Dec 17th...

[GemmeFemme]

It was the sound of breaking glass that did it. Hys girl was rushing around cursing her clumsiness, trying to pick up all of the shards of the broken ornament and talking a mile a minute about when and where she got that ornament. If the sound of breaking glass put hym on the plane it was the scent of blood when she cut her finger sent hym all the way back over there. Hy was physically still sitting in hys wheelchair in the middle of the living room trying to pretend it was like any other Christmas and that none of what happened went on at all. Mentally though hy was in that horrid desert again, breathing in sand, smoke and dirt. The smell of blood and gunpowder was washing over hym in suffocating waves. Hys body went on auto pilot to do the things hy knew needed to be done, he could observe but hy just wasn’t there.

Hy was in that tiny village hearing the screams of the women and children trying to get through the gates into the arms of what they thought were going to be their salvation. The gate was choked with people trying to get through. Some of hys unit were pulling people through but it wasn’t fast enough. The women and children were trapped between the gate and the rebel’s gun fire. Hy heard their men screaming for them and their howls of frustration at the iron fences holding them back. Hy could see the rebels standing in the bed of their truck laughing and jeering as they fired on the women and children. Hy cursed the order from some paper pushing pin head commander 1500 miles away that had put the men in the compound in an attempt to stave off this attack. Hy continued to fire at the rebels but since hys unit had not been given the green light for kill shots they were left with shooting ineffectually at the truck or over their heads. Someone had let the rebels know they would be safe if they stayed far enough away. In a hundred and ten degree heat, hy turned cold at the slaughter unfolding before hys eyes.

The ringing of the bell brought hys attention back to the real world. Hy forced hys body to move to kiss hys girl’s now bandaged finger and murmur the things hy knew he would say if hy was actually in his body. She stopped for a moment and looked at hym with her head tilted. She squeezed hys hand hard, she began to talk in a bright way; she was lighting his way home. She knew hy was gone and was doing all she could do to bring hym home. She smiled, laughed and touched hys body to try to reach the dark place hy had gone to. The ice that had formed deep in hys soul began to show signs of cracking under her loving bright light.

Hy felt the recoil of the gun on hys shoulder; hy could hear the woman screaming over the gunfire. She was trying to force her skin and bone body through the iron fence, her hands outstretched towards the child sitting on the ground crying in fear. Hy wasn’t conscious of the decision hy had made once he saw that little baby sitting in the road with puffs of dirt marking where the bullets were hitting. Everything had begun to happen in slow motion; hy looked to the guy on hys right without saying a word they knew what they were going to do. Hys buddy went down on all fours as close as he could to the fence; hy set is gun down beside hys buddy. Hy ran back to get a running start, hy stepped on hys buddy’s back as he gave hym the extra lift to get over the fence. Hy hit the ground running as the rebels noticed what hy was doing and began to fire at hym. Hy could hear his C.O. yelling at hym but it didn’t stop hym, hy just kept running. Hy snatched up the baby from the ground as hy turned to get back to the fence. Hy could see hys friend shooting back at the rebels as hy saw the bullets raising little clouds of dust around hym. It didn’t matter; all that mattered was reaching that fence. As hy reached the fence hys buddy was standing on someone else’s back to reach as hy lifted the baby over the fence. As soon as the baby was in safe hands, that is when hy felt the bullets enter hym. The pain was unbelievable as hy fell rolling to a stop against the fence as everything went dark.

The rest hy only saw in flashes. Realizing the blood on the baby was not only hys. Hys C.O. was yelling at hym as he pulled hym back inside the line. Hy could hear the mother screaming to help her baby. The medics telling hym to hang on… Hys girl’s face in tears. She was begging hym to stop and come back to her. It was her hot tears on hys skin that brought hym back. Hy had pulled her from their bed and pushed her against the wall Hy kept pulling at her to keep her down from the gunfire in hys mind. The dam broke in hym looking at her terrified eyes. Hy kept murmuring how sorry hy was as hy kissed her making sure that hy had not hurt her. Hy helped her back into bed as hy checked her again to make sure hy had not hurt her. The black shadow in the back of hys mind whispered the insidious thought that hy may not have hurt her this time but what about next time?

She held hym and wondered when her solider was going to come home.

BMW, this is fantastic and eerily familiar, having been though something similar. Great writing.

I don't know if I'll be able to participate, but pushing the deadline back might be a good idea, DC.

[DAYWALKER]

I hear an echo...lol, is it time yet?

[GemmeFemme]

I hear an echo...lol, is it time yet?

Pssst...I don't think anyone's home.

[DaddyCat]

Sorry I haven't been here for awhile...
Just got out of the hosp on Christmas day...
I will be back sometime this week to
tie up the lose ends here...
I go back to work today,
and I will come up with
a question so We can
get this back on track..
again, sorry for being slow
to get things moving...

DC

[GemmeFemme]

Sorry I haven't been here for awhile...
Just got out of the hosp on Christmas day...
I will be back sometime this week to
tie up the lose ends here...
I go back to work today,
and I will come up with
a question so We can
get this back on track..
again, sorry for being slow
to get things moving...

DC

((((((((((DC))))))))))

I hope you are fast on the road to recovery. No worries; we're just bored.

[write14u]

Bumping this up. I just discovered this thread. So is there a new topic or can I go back and do an earlier challenge?

[justaroccitygirl]

Fatigues

You never looked quite so handsome as you did in that black and white photograph
Your sister took it at your graduation from boot camp
Leaning against a chin-up bar, smug smile, ACUs

I flew down to see you
Southern hospitality and a white dress in Virginia
We walked around the base
You don't slouch anymore
A swift embrace but the meaning was more

You called late at night, you and Jack had gotten too friendly
"I'm not afraid of dying," you slurred, "I love you more than life itself."

Your battle buddy died in Afganistan; a car bomb took her life
You came home for a short while; I know you'll be ship out again--
Iraq this time, in February
My Daddy's been there, too; he came back a different man
Back in your ACUs, those polished boots
And a faded photograph from '03 in your pocket, some new ones too
To remind you of your roots

You have a home, Soldier
Be sure to make your way back to it

[DAYWALKER]

Bumping this up. I just discovered this thread. So is there a new topic or can I go back and do an earlier challenge?

That is a good question...
A new Topic still seems to be hanging in a balance.

Welcome to the thread!

Fatigues

You never looked quite so handsome as you did in that black and white photograph
Your sister took it at your graduation from boot camp
Leaning against a chin-up bar, smug smile, ACUs

I flew down to see you
Southern hospitality and a white dress in Virginia
We walked around the base
You don't slouch anymore
A swift embrace but the meaning was more

You called late at night, you and Jack had gotten too friendly
"I'm not afraid of dying," you slurred, "I love you more than life itself."

Your battle buddy died in Afganistan; a car bomb took her life
You came home for a short while; I know you'll be ship out again--
Iraq this time, in February
My Daddy's been there, too; he came back a different man
Back in your ACUs, those polished boots
And a faded photograph from '03 in your pocket, some new ones too
To remind you of your roots

You have a home, Soldier
Be sure to make your way back to it

Nice work J-Roc...

[DaddyCat]

OK... I am here now...
I am ready to put the
question out there...
being the hat/cap collector
I am, I thought it
would be fun to
have ya'll guess
how many I have...
it is between 20 and 70...

the guessers are:
DayWalker
MiamiButch
BMW
justaroccitygirl

[justaroccitygirl]

56


final answer

[DAYWALKER]

OK... I am here now...

I am ready to put the
question out there...
being the hat/cap collector
I am, I thought it
would be fun to
have ya'll guess
how many I have...
it is between 20 and 70...

the guessers are:
DayWalker
MiamiButch
BMW

justaroccitygirl

I'll guess 36...no wait...42...no wait.

Oh, hell how about 40.

Final answer is 40.

[DaddyCat]

OK... so far We have 2 guesses

DayWalker..............40
MiamiButch
BMW
justaroccitygirl.........56

[MiamiButch]

I say 35. Sorry I haven't been around, going through some emotional stuff. I'll get over it, I always do. lol

[DaddyCat]

Waiting on BMW now...

DayWalker...........40
MiamiButch..........35
BMW
justaroccitygirl......56

[GemmeFemme]

Tick, tock, tick, tock
My biological clock
is running around
at the speed of sound
Hickory, dickory, dock

[BlueMoonWolf]

Waiting on BMW now...

DayWalker...........40
MiamiButch..........35
BMW
justaroccitygirl......56

Jesus i know how many hats you had.... I know because some of those "accidentally" fell behind the couch, dresser and into the dog beds.... uhhhh no you didn't read that it was a figment of your imagination.

Okay so never mind that... so if we are talking hats that are actually out of a box and used my guess is 25... if we are talking hats that aren't out and in rotation (yes i know there is a rotation) that number i think is a little fudged and it's closer to 100

so i am going to stick with my 25 guess.

[DaddyCat]

LMFAO @ BMW.....


MiamiButch is the winner.....
I now have in "rotation" 38 hats/caps...

Congrats MiamiButch....

[GemmeFemme]

I can't wait to find out the new topic! I think I'm actually going to participate. I know, I know....it's earthshattering news, isn't it?

[MiamiButch]

Wait! I actually WON??? Whoa Nelly! Break out the champagne! Make with the dancing girls! I WON!! lol

[DAYWALKER]

Wait! I actually WON??? Whoa Nelly! Break out the champagne! Make with the dancing girls! I WON!! lol

While yer dancing around...lol, how about you break into song
about the new Topic...lol, yes?

Too much champagne leaves the memory a bit roadside...hahahhaa!

[BlueMoonWolf]

Miami!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
get your ass in here and give us a topic!!!!!

you have until Tomorrow (Wens) at 9 pm MST. Thank you very much *curtsey's*

[MiamiButch]

Ok, bois and grrls, after being vewwy well persuaded by our lovely BMW, I've come up with a topic. Since Valentine's Day is coming up, I thought we could all share funny, endearing, teary or just plain WEIRD stories on either First Dates, First Meetings or First, er, well, you know.... The only hook is this, it HAS to be something that REALLY happened. Whether it happened to you, or to someone else doesn't matter. Now, GET TO IT, and BMW, you can convince me to write the topic ANY time. I'm easy that way. lol

[GemmeFemme]

I'm easy that way. lol

Is that something you really want to advertise?

[MiamiButch]

Clarification: I'm easy as far as, IF you ask me nicely, I'm most likely to do it. Screaming at me won't work, I can go conveniently deaf at will. Bullying won't work, because I have YET to meet someone with a harder head than I have! lol And finally, bribery won't work, because frankly, I've HAD LOTS of money/material things in my life and in the words of a famous Country song "That don't impress me much". lol

[BlueMoonWolf]

Clarification: I'm easy as far as, IF you ask me nicely, I'm most likely to do it. Screaming at me won't work, I can go conveniently deaf at will. Bullying won't work, because I have YET to meet someone with a harder head than I have! lol And finally, bribery won't work, because frankly, I've HAD LOTS of money/material things in my life and in the words of a famous Country song "That don't impress me much". lol

*snorts laughing* I am quite certain that the whole jumping into the chat room and reminding you that good bois get rewarded had nothing to do with the sudden setting of the topic.

Blue

[BmacG]

Ok, bois and grrls, after being vewwy well persuaded by our lovely BMW, I've come up with a topic. Since Valentine's Day is coming up, I thought we could all share funny, endearing, teary or just plain WEIRD stories on either First Dates, First Meetings or First, er, well, you know.... The only hook is this, it HAS to be something that REALLY happened. Whether it happened to you, or to someone else doesn't matter. Now, GET TO IT, and BMW, you can convince me to write the topic ANY time. I'm easy that way. lol

Forgive me, I am uninitiated in this process. Is there a time limit or anything? Do I have to bring an offering of any sort? (Bag of cat hair, handful of GI Joe boots, marbles...?)

[MiamiButch]

*snorts laughing* I am quite certain that the whole jumping into the chat room and reminding you that good bois get rewarded had nothing to do with the sudden setting of the topic.

Blue

Well, yeah, THAT and the fact that you almost took out my TONSILS with that cyber kiss! LOL ; ) LMAO Now THAT'S what I call MOTIVATING! lol

[MiamiButch]

*snorts laughing* I am quite certain that the whole jumping into the chat room and reminding you that good bois get rewarded had nothing to do with the sudden setting of the topic.

Blue

Well, yeah, THAT and the fact that you almost took out my TONSILS with that cyber kiss! LOL ; ) LMAO Now THAT'S what I call MOTIVATING! lol

[GemmeFemme]

Forgive me, I am uninitiated in this process. Is there a time limit or anything? Do I have to bring an offering of any sort? (Bag of cat hair, handful of GI Joe boots, marbles...?)

Why yes, there IS a time frame and any additional requirements or restrictions that MB would like to issue to us.

Oh, Miamiiiiiiii.....where for art thou?

[BmacG]

Why yes, there IS a time frame and any additional requirements or restrictions that MB would like to issue to us.

Oh, Miamiiiiiiii.....where for art thou?

I believe he hath hied to the kissing booth.