I started it again. I'm going to write another 50,000 word story this month. I just have to do it. The more I write, the closer I'm to publication. My grammar, spelling and vocabulary still suck but it's getting better. One of these days, it's going to be perfect, I'll show you. The story is sci-fi this time. It starts in some distant future on some distant planet. I don't know much about it since I'm making it up as I go along. It's a strange way to write, not really knowing what's going to happen next. Well, it's all practise, so it's ok.
Now, here is a preview of what I have written so far:
"Carrier from Euen system docking on platform C. Platform C."
Maddy looked at the screen above her. It changed from red to green and the doors opened. People came from the carrier one by one. Maddy stretched her head to see behind them. Her face brightened and she waved.
A boy jumped from behind the line, almost stumbling on their baggages. He stood before Maddy and grinned.
Maddy chuckled and ruffled his hair. "It's been a long time, kid."
"Did you miss me?" he asked and set his backpack on the floor.
Maddy leaned and pulled his jacket zipper down and opened the jacket. She shook her head. "You never change. Some day the sun is going to boil you when you pass it. Only three?" She looked at the undershirts that were layered over each other. Not only that, each one was a different color: yellow, red and blue.
He pulled his jacket close. "What? I get cold easily, you know that." He seemed to remember something and started rummaging his bag. He pulled out a small box and handed to Maddy.
She took it. "What's this?"
He scratched the back of his neck. "I thought you might like it." He was grinning again.
She opened the box and a gentle smile came to her face. "It's beautiful." She pulled out a silver bracelet.
"Here." He slid it in her hand. "If you press here," he pushed something on its side and a picture of a man appeared on the bracelet, "you can see the news. You can change the channels here." He flipped to a channel showing a purple blob playing ping pong. "It's on mute now. You can even order dinner with it. But here's the best part." He pressed it a few times and his face appeared on it. He was smiling and waved his hand. Maddy's name and hearts in many sizes appeared on it, floating around his face. "Neat, isn't it?"
Maddy smiled. "It's wonderful. Thank you, Matt."
"You're welcome." He looked around. "So, any place where I can eat here?"
"I know just the place." She took his bag over her shoulder and they walked outside.
It was a sunny day as both suns were visible. Matt squinted at them. They walked to one of the yellow cars waiting on the side of the road and got in. Matt opened his mouth. He looked around him. There were seats in font of them but no driver, or even a place for him to be.
"What's this?" he asked.
Maddy held up a finger.
A voice crackled. "Welcome to Fastlane Express. Where can we take you?"
"Naka-side, 31st block," she said.
"Thank you."
The car jerked and lifted in the air, moving over the road. When there was a free space, it accelerated and slowly descented down to the road, taking it's place in the long line of cars on the road.
"We didn't have these back home," Maddy said.
Matt was staring out the window, his hands pressed against the glass. High buildings rose all around him. He could see small patched of green but mostly the scenery was glass, steel and plastic, not to mention all the other materials he didn't know the names of.
"Matt?" She snapped her fingers. "You'll see it all soon enough."
He reluctantly leaned back. Maddy was staring at him.
Matt looked at his jacket and back at her. "What?"
She smiled. "You've grown since I left."
"Of course. I'm almost a man now." He nodded to himself.
"You're eleven."
"Well," he waved his hand, "not for long. You haven't changed much. Maybe you're a little rounder."
"Rounder?" She looked at him in dismay. "I exercise regularly, for your information, and I don't grow much anymore."
"I guess not." Matt fell silent. He stared at the sky through the top window. "Do you remember? What you promised."
"Promised?" She put a finger to her lips. "You don't mean that?"
"A promise is a promise," Matt pointed out.
"When I promised that, I thought you'd be at least twenty and I'd be married and have two children by the time you got here."
Matt crossed his arms. "That's mean." He looked away.
Maddy rubbed her head and sighed. "Fine, I'm sorry. I did promise it."
Matt's face lit up. "Yes! I can't wait to tell everyone that I finally have a girlfriend. My friends will be insanely jealous." He chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
Maddy lifted her hands. "Just wait a minute. I never promised you could say anything about this to anyone. Even a word and I'll cancel the whole thing." She glared at him.
Matt knew not to cross her when she had those eyes. He grinned. "I won't say anything. I promise."
Her face softened. "I guess I can handle one week. It can't be that bad. But don't dare call me your girlfriend or anything like that. If anyone asks, I'm your big sister. Understand?"
Matt nodded. "But we'll still do all the things a couple does, right?"
She looked uncomfortable. "To an extent."
"That's all I ask." He took her hand in his and smiled at her.
After a moment, Maddy smiled back. She glanced out the window. "Why don't we catch up while eating?"
The car lifted again off the road and found a space on the side of the road. Before they left, Maddy waved her hand over a display showing the price of the trip. It beeped and wished them a good day. After they stood out, it lifted again and joined the fast traffic flowing past them.
