Writing prompt number one....
Nov. 26th, 2007 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gothams3rdrobinSuggested by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
catwalksalone:
"How about a terrifying Christmas shopping experience? No more than 2000 words."
The Fright Before Christmas
If there was one thing Branwen hated, it was Christmas shopping; the crowds of people, the irritating Christmas muzak, and trying to find gifts for random family members you rarely ever see - it all got on her nerves.
But add to that having to drag her five-year-old niece Rhiannon along with her? Branwen was pretty sure this was hell.
"She'll be no trouble!" Her sister Carys had insisted, needing a babysitter while she completed her own shopping, "And she does enjoy spending time with you." Eventually, Branwen had been guilted into it.
So here they were in St David's Centre, fighting their way through crowds of impatient shoppers and trying not to get walloped by all the shopping bags.
"Aunty Branwen, I'm hungry!" Declared Rhiannon, pulling on her aunt's hand, "Can we get lunch now?"
"Nonny, we just got here!" Branwen sighed, already exasperated, "And lunchtime isn't for at least an hour."
"Aw, but I'm hungry!" The little girl pouted. Then something caught her attention; "Can we go in there?" She asked, pointing at the Early Learning Centre store.
Branwen groaned, knowing she'd never get her niece out of a toy shop without any kind of scene. "Not just now - I need you to help me choose a Christmas present for your nan and grandad."
The five-year-old screwed up her nose, thinking hard, "But isn't that Father Christmas's job?"
Branwen chuckled, "Not for grown-ups, cariad. He's far too busy getting presents ready for all the children. So, we grown-ups help out, you see?" Rhiannon's expression was dubious, but she eventually accepted the story with a nod of her head. Branwen gave an internal sigh of relief. "Now, what do you think we should get for Nan and Grandad?"
"A new princess doll?" Came the enthusiastic response.
Bronwen laughed, "I don't think so, somehow."
They eventually stopped at a department store attached to the shopping centre, and Branwen began to browse through the gifts on display at the front of the shop. Most of it was cheap nonsense more appropriate for the office 'Secret Santa', but there were a few more sophisticated options. She had just about chosen to get her parents the wine and chocolates gift set when she realised she hadn't seen Rhiannon in her peripheral vision for at least a minute.
She scanned the area as best she could, trying to peer past the racks of clothes and shelves of gifts, but there was no sign of the little girl.
"Rhiannon!" She called, "Nonny, where are you?" Her concern grew at getting no response.
Branwen walked briskly through the aisles, searchin up and down for her niece, but there was no trace of her. Knowing she couldn't just keep hunting, she sought out the nearest security guard and explained the problem, giving him a description of Rhiannon. He immediately contacted his colleagues on his radio, asking if any of them had seen her.
"Not seen her, Rhys, sorry." Was the general response all through the department store.
"Please let her not have gone out the doors!" Branwen groaned.
Rhys looked at her sympathetically, before getting back on his radio to query if anyone in the Centre had seen Rhiannon. It was a long, anxious moment before a woman's voice crackled over the radio's speaker.
"Rhys? It's Megan in ELC - there looks to be an unaccompanied child here that matches your description. She's playing with the kitchen set."
"That must be her!" Branwen exclaimed, "She was nagging me to take her in there earlier."
"Let's go find out, shall we?" Rhys offered, "Rhys to Iestyn - popping down to Early Learning a sec, mate - got a lead on that missing girl. You got it covered?"
"No problem, butt! Just don't be too long, yeah?"
The pair high-tailed it down the shopping arcade towards the toy store, and Branwen nearly fainted in relief at the sight of her niece, safe and unharmed. The little girl was completely oblivious to the trouble she'd caused, and was happily preparing a cup of pretend tea.
"There you are!" Branwen hugged Rhiannon close, "Don't run off like that again! You frightened me."
"Sorry, Aunty Branwen!"
"Alright now?" Asked Rhys, smiling.
Branwen nodded, "Thank you so much for your help."
"No problem. You stick close to your aunty now, okay sweetie?" He tickled Rhiannon under the chin, "It's very busy out there today, and you could get lost again." She nodded obediently, staring wide-eyed at the stranger. Then she turned to look at her aunt.
"Now can we get some lunch?"
Branwen chuckled, "Alright, Nonny, let's go get some lunch."
"Yay!"
*exhales* Hope that fits the bill. Not exactly a literary masterpiece, but then isn't that what the course is intended to help with?
Next up:yellowseptember wants a Sentinel fic, involving a computer, a ball of string and an unusual use of a cup....
*gibbers in a corner*
catwalksalone:"How about a terrifying Christmas shopping experience? No more than 2000 words."
The Fright Before Christmas
If there was one thing Branwen hated, it was Christmas shopping; the crowds of people, the irritating Christmas muzak, and trying to find gifts for random family members you rarely ever see - it all got on her nerves.
But add to that having to drag her five-year-old niece Rhiannon along with her? Branwen was pretty sure this was hell.
"She'll be no trouble!" Her sister Carys had insisted, needing a babysitter while she completed her own shopping, "And she does enjoy spending time with you." Eventually, Branwen had been guilted into it.
So here they were in St David's Centre, fighting their way through crowds of impatient shoppers and trying not to get walloped by all the shopping bags.
"Aunty Branwen, I'm hungry!" Declared Rhiannon, pulling on her aunt's hand, "Can we get lunch now?"
"Nonny, we just got here!" Branwen sighed, already exasperated, "And lunchtime isn't for at least an hour."
"Aw, but I'm hungry!" The little girl pouted. Then something caught her attention; "Can we go in there?" She asked, pointing at the Early Learning Centre store.
Branwen groaned, knowing she'd never get her niece out of a toy shop without any kind of scene. "Not just now - I need you to help me choose a Christmas present for your nan and grandad."
The five-year-old screwed up her nose, thinking hard, "But isn't that Father Christmas's job?"
Branwen chuckled, "Not for grown-ups, cariad. He's far too busy getting presents ready for all the children. So, we grown-ups help out, you see?" Rhiannon's expression was dubious, but she eventually accepted the story with a nod of her head. Branwen gave an internal sigh of relief. "Now, what do you think we should get for Nan and Grandad?"
"A new princess doll?" Came the enthusiastic response.
Bronwen laughed, "I don't think so, somehow."
They eventually stopped at a department store attached to the shopping centre, and Branwen began to browse through the gifts on display at the front of the shop. Most of it was cheap nonsense more appropriate for the office 'Secret Santa', but there were a few more sophisticated options. She had just about chosen to get her parents the wine and chocolates gift set when she realised she hadn't seen Rhiannon in her peripheral vision for at least a minute.
She scanned the area as best she could, trying to peer past the racks of clothes and shelves of gifts, but there was no sign of the little girl.
"Rhiannon!" She called, "Nonny, where are you?" Her concern grew at getting no response.
Branwen walked briskly through the aisles, searchin up and down for her niece, but there was no trace of her. Knowing she couldn't just keep hunting, she sought out the nearest security guard and explained the problem, giving him a description of Rhiannon. He immediately contacted his colleagues on his radio, asking if any of them had seen her.
"Not seen her, Rhys, sorry." Was the general response all through the department store.
"Please let her not have gone out the doors!" Branwen groaned.
Rhys looked at her sympathetically, before getting back on his radio to query if anyone in the Centre had seen Rhiannon. It was a long, anxious moment before a woman's voice crackled over the radio's speaker.
"Rhys? It's Megan in ELC - there looks to be an unaccompanied child here that matches your description. She's playing with the kitchen set."
"That must be her!" Branwen exclaimed, "She was nagging me to take her in there earlier."
"Let's go find out, shall we?" Rhys offered, "Rhys to Iestyn - popping down to Early Learning a sec, mate - got a lead on that missing girl. You got it covered?"
"No problem, butt! Just don't be too long, yeah?"
The pair high-tailed it down the shopping arcade towards the toy store, and Branwen nearly fainted in relief at the sight of her niece, safe and unharmed. The little girl was completely oblivious to the trouble she'd caused, and was happily preparing a cup of pretend tea.
"There you are!" Branwen hugged Rhiannon close, "Don't run off like that again! You frightened me."
"Sorry, Aunty Branwen!"
"Alright now?" Asked Rhys, smiling.
Branwen nodded, "Thank you so much for your help."
"No problem. You stick close to your aunty now, okay sweetie?" He tickled Rhiannon under the chin, "It's very busy out there today, and you could get lost again." She nodded obediently, staring wide-eyed at the stranger. Then she turned to look at her aunt.
"Now can we get some lunch?"
Branwen chuckled, "Alright, Nonny, let's go get some lunch."
"Yay!"
*exhales* Hope that fits the bill. Not exactly a literary masterpiece, but then isn't that what the course is intended to help with?
Next up:
yellowseptember wants a Sentinel fic, involving a computer, a ball of string and an unusual use of a cup....*gibbers in a corner*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-11-26 10:02 pm (UTC)I think I may have read the whole thing in a Welsh accent. :)
Love the explanation Branwen gives to Rhiannon about shopping for presents. Very crafty.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-26 10:11 pm (UTC)Hee - I did kinda lay on the dialect a little thickly. Not too much?
Yeah - I've been aiding in the conspiracy for eighteen years now, there's certain little explanations you think up ;-) Mam thinks this is the last year Rowan'll believe, but I beg to differ, frankly.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 05:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 03:57 pm (UTC)(FYI, Robin know's me very well and I forsee a kicking in my near future!!!)
*Evil Grin* Tee Hee Ok, gonna come up with one for ya!!! Bwahhahaaa!!!!
Ardderchog Cariad
no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 08:20 pm (UTC)They do say you should write what you know, yes? Okay, Rowan's never run off to ELC while I was shopping in Debenhams, but it's not hard to write the scenario.
I dread to think what you could come up with for me! ;-)
Diolch yn fawr iawn, fy nghariad! *cofleidio*