Saturday, March 5, 2011

Saturday Centus - Blue Note

It's time to visit Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent for Saturday Centus. Give Jenny some extra love this week, she's had a rough time with some dental work. Yet she still manages to host this fun event! The rules are simple. Jenny provides us with a prompt. We let our imaginations run wild and write a short story of up to 100 words, exclusive of the prompt. No pictures, no vulgarity and the prompt must be used intact in the the story. Simple, right? Jenny even leaves the link live for a full week, so you have plenty of time to pen a tale and join this merry band of Centusians. Join us! I promise you'll have fun. The prompt for this week's story is in bold italics.

Blue Note

Friday night. The place was hoppin'! Jake heard the clink of bottles, the low hum of the crowd, an occasional burst of raucous laughter cutting through the din. Layers of smoke hung in the air, thick as cotton. Jake looked down at his horn, his faithful companion, the finish worn from years of jamming in joints like this. She'd earned her keep tonight, drawing the attention of the sharp dressed man at the back table. Minnie, grinning from ear to ear, slipped him the card between sets. Jake stared in disbelief at the words. Eli Slaughter - Blue Note Records. Everything depended upon this single card.




31 comments:

Deborah said...

Brilliant! wonderfully done :o)

Susan Anderson said...

Very good! I liked this.

=)

Unknown said...

Hooray! I like a good ending! It appears after years of hard work, Jake has finally "made it"!

xinex said...

You are an excellent writer, Kat, and you've proven it once again. I am so sorry about your mom, I hope she feels better soon. I know how it is when a parent is sick, kinda draining from worrying. Take care!...Christine

jabblog said...

Great take! It's hard performing and hoping for the talent scouts to catch the performance.

Ames said...

Looks like a talent scout has found gem. I enjoyed your description of the room. ~Ames

Lynn said...

I always enjoy your writing. You are consistently excellent.
Thank you for your sweet words and prayers for my mama.

Judie said...

Oooow! A business card! Now that is certainly original, Kat! Good thinking, and great centus!!!

Blondie's Journal said...

Very nice. You always leave us hanging in suspense and waiting for that short story or novel!

XO,
Jane

Jo said...

wonderful ... what a marvellous take on the prompt!!!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

You set the scene with great imagery and anticipation. This is wonderful. I'm feeling really excited for him right now.
xoRobyn

Kelly Sedinger said...

Ahhh, the possible big break. Excellent!

~Lissa said...

Aw yay! I love the direction you went with the prompt and your description of the room was wonderful! Great centus!

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

I sense a book in your future - yes, I do! Linda

Nonna said...

Very Nice job ! I loved the feeling of foreboding, the perfect descriptions of the room etc. and the suspenseful cliffhanger !!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kat. I read this earlier and hit the follow button! I love what you did with the prompt and how you set a scene full of imagery. Well done! I'm enjoying your blog.

e said...

So good Kat! I love the idea, what am original place to have taken the prompt. We written as always too. Nicely done :)

21 Wits said...

Oh this is creative...the set up brought me right inside the place as well1 Great take on prompt!

Darlene said...

Oh Kat, this was soooo good. You are such a good writer and in many ways you remind me of my daughter, Sue. I love the way you set the scene so well and then, the big surprise. Couldn't be better.

By the way, I do hope you try the Caramel Corn. It is really easy!!!

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

I love how you stage the scene with many descriptive words. I can see it in front of my eyes..Wonderful take!

xinex said...

Hi Kat! Just want to tell you that Greg Iles was in a bad auto accident and was airlifted to a hospital in Jackson. I hope he is is ok. I hope your mom is ok too. I'll pray for both of them...Christine

K&B by the Sea said...

I need somebody to slip me a life-changing card! But somehow, I doubt anyone from Blue Note Records would be too impressed with my fiddle playing ;-)

Another great story, Kat :-)

cj Schlottman said...

Kat!

I love this. The images are so concrete and creative - "Layers of smoke hung in the air, thick as cotton." Brilliant!

And there is so much hope here. Great Centus.

Namaste..........cj

Tina said...

very nice. i love your description of the atmosphere and the name slaughter is cleverly crazy!

Karen said...

This is original -- a business card! I wasn't expecting that and it made me smile. It's a great story in such a short space!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Good take on an important card, Kat! You always put the best twist into your stories :)

Tgoette said...

Oh Kat I just loved how well you painted the scene in this story. This was simply brilliant. Such an original take on the prompt too! Great job!

Shellbelle said...

Now you just know I LOVED this! Boy, it sure brought back memories of places just like you described in such great detail and the boys in the band waiting for their big break. Some got and others didn't, but the band played on.

Arlee Bird said...

That cool break that so many of us wait on in some way or another.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Sarah said...

And did Jake get discovered?
You are good! ~ sarah

Jenny said...

Kat. You are just something else. Your imagination is so vivid. I'm not sure what State you live in, but I really hope someday we can meet.

Incredibly creative imagery, great story line, I feel like you told us so much more than 100 words would even allow.

Thank you for linking.