Short Story
Click Here for Grpahic Novel
In English we began with a character description. We had to become the character and include all the details about their life; from their sexual life to their ethnicity to their tendencies.
This was a very interesting process as it required me to take on the role of an individual who was once inside my head, and then became a real person that I could have known for many years. Then became the process of creating a conflict. We messed around with internal and external conflicts that our character could have, and then eventually chose our story line around the progression of the conflict.
Looking back this unit taught me to build a story, not to write one. It taught me how to tie the reader into the life of the character's and feel the emotions that they felt. Even though this was my first graphic novel and flash fiction, it was a huge leap towards creating entising stories.
Unforgettable
Looking into the empty dog house I remember the great times Sparky and I had out here. His ball getting stuck in the deep winter snow, and his muddy paws tarnishing my ripped jeans as his silky tongue left a slobbery path across my right cheek. He really was man’s best friend, but sometimes the universe has its own agenda.
My name is Anthony Cruz, but my friends call me Tony. I live in a two-room apartment with a small shared backyard. Pictures of Sparky and me line the tables and are hung on the walls. He even has his own closet, well, had... The things I would give to have him back and to get out of this dump. But as I said before about the universe, it can seem like someone else is in control.
Randy, my buddy from work, called me up asking if I wanted to go to the bar and hang with the guys, but I decided to take a walk down Main instead. It was a warm, bright night, but all I felt was sorrow.
That’s when it hit me, well I hit it, her.
“Oh sorr... Wow!” I exclaimed. You know that moment when you know they’re the one. Well damn she was the one.
“Oh it’s alright,” she replied in a weak, yet authoritative voice. She kept on sweeping the sidewalk.
“Erh...Umm...Is this a coffee shop?” I got out as I glanced at the sign above the door.
“Yeah. Best in town,” she replied.
Well my mind was set. I was going to get this girls number. No, I’m going to take her to the movies. I took a seat at a table next to the live jazz band. They were playing a pretty catchy tune that caused my mind to wander along with my eyes. The pet store. Shit.
The depression hit strong again. I was about to give up on that girl, but I suddenly remembered what the jazz music reminded me of. Back in college, my roommate’s band did a rendition of this piece. He always said, “It doesn’t matter the form in which you find happiness. It’s just that you find it.”
Well that was enough to get me up to the counter to order a lattê. Some girl named Sara took my order, but as I was ordering I heard Her voice. “leaving...San Francisco...tomorrow.”
The idea that she could be out of my life so quickly caused my mind to race.
“What’s her name?” I blurted out, startling the barrista.
“What?” she replied.
“You know that girl over there,” I said as I pointed at the girl that I had bumped into, previously.
“That’s Megan. Don’t even try. She and her boyfriend are leaving for San Francisco in the morning.”
“Boyfriend.” My heart sank.
“Don’t worry. Hey if you want to wait like ten minutes, my shift will be over and we can grab a bite and a movie?”
I had been so mesmerized by that one girl that I thought my happiness would lay with her, but as my roommate said, “It’s just that you find it.” When I turned back to Sarah, I realized that happiness can be anywhere, even at some of the darkest times, and just a having someone smile, changed my perspective.
“Yeah that sounds great,” I remarked.
And it turned out to be one of the most memorable nights of my life...
