Monday, August 28, 2006

Sunday Scribblings -- Monster

You certainly don't have to twist my arm to get me to write a monster story! I love horror, and when I read Meg's prompt for Sunday Scribblings this week, my thought was WHICH MONSTER to write about?? I settled on goblins, and if you are familiar with Christina Rossetti's marvelous poem "Goblin Market," you have the background for this weird little story about kissing. And yes, I AM aware that my last strange tale ALSO involved kissing and dire consequences. But don't read anything into that. I'm pro-kissing. This is not a cautionary tale. Except: beware of goblins and strange fruit!

"Monster"

There is a certain kind of girl the goblins crave. You could walk across a highschool campus and point. Her, her, NOT her... It’s no mystery. That pretty girl sitting on her boyfriend’s lap? NOT her. The girl WATCHING the pretty girl sitting on her boyfriend’s lap? Yeah. Goner.

The goblins want girls who dream so hard about being pretty their dreams become a palpable trail, a scent goblins can follow like sharks on a soft bloom of blood. The girls with hungry eyes who pray each night to wake up as someone else. Urgent, unkissed, wishful girls.

Like Kizzy.

* * *

[I've taken down the rest of the story; sorry. It's a secret!]

21 comments:

Left-handed Trees... said...

Oohh...I kept urging her to make a different decision even as I knew she'd fall for it. Beautifully rendered--the way you described that peach, and that bad-boy--I'd have been a goner too!

Alex S said...

oooooooooo that was so good!!!! You need to collect these sunday scribblings stories of yours and publish them in a short story collection! I think its that polka dotted ceiling that has taken your talents over the top. Defintely worth waiting for! Now come over here and paint a tiny story on my kitchen wall.

paris parfait said...

Fantastic, extremely-entertaining story! Just magical and brilliant! Definitely one for a collection of short stories, you clever woman you!

Anonymous said...

I am totally amazed at your imagination! Magic come alive. Well done!!!

Anonymous said...

What FUN! This is a great story, Laini. And you are such a natural-born YA writer! You totally have your finger on the pulse of that teenaged girl. Made me think of being 16 - I'd've been goblin bait for sure! :)

Deirdre said...

nooooooo...I want the rest of the story! This is so good, Laini - you had me hooked.

DJPare said...

She's a fruit slut! :)
Great story! You are a wonderful writer!
I'm not sure if I want to see more, or if I like the ending the way it is, left to our imagination...

Deb R said...

Laini! That does NOT feel like the end. I hope you'll revisit this wonderful story when you have more time and add more. I agree with what the others have said - I could easily see you putting together a short story collection. This one seems to me to fit perfectly in theme and feeling with the story you wrote about the cursed English girl in India. You're a fabulous writer.

Alex S said...

Hey mushbuggy, I just came back to read it AGAIN I liked it so much!

Laini Taylor said...

Wow -- I didn't think anyone would read my very long, very late Sunday Scribbling! Thank you all so much for taking the time!!! (and for your kind words)

Anonymous said...

You are just, just, just (there aren't enough justs in the world, my dear) amazing and magical and I am so so so so (today is my day for repetition, the words have long-fled) grateful that you SHARE yourself and your thoughts with US. I don't have anything to say...this was just PERFECT. I never quite know what you are going to say, just that it will be BRILLIANT.

And I am never disappointed (just jealous instead LOL).

Anonymous said...

This was Magnifico, Laini!!! I can't put enough exclamation points to show the standing ovation I'm giving you and your story. Someday resolve the story for us, pretty please!
I have hope that she has a sister like the girl in the Goblin's Market, to save her. It's funny, but I just read that poem for the first time a couple of months ago, and it was one of those rare poems that "stuck with me" for some reason.
Thanks for a great read!

briliantdonkey said...

wow, very nice job with this story. I agree with most of the other comments already made. Thanks for the awesome read!

BD

Claudia said...

Brilliant! I´m off to kiss Erich and taste those peaches!

Amber said...

I can't wait to read your book! I love your stories, and this one was great, too! :)

:)

liz elayne lamoreux said...

oh please let this so not be finished. i want to read more and more my dear.

thank your for always sharing your magical world here...such a wonderful place for me to visit on my break from work.

Kim G. said...

Yes, yes - a book of short stories called "Dangerous Kisses" and a whole series like this one an the one before. I can imagine young pre-teen, high school and moms reading the magical tales together! I agree with everyone else - keep writing these gems!

sophie said...

FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow. Meandering magic with
a switchblade for words
fossilized into gems no less.

urgent and unkissed - ohhhhh-
that's ME!!!!!

Darlene said...

Shoot! I'm hanging on the edge by the tips of my fingers with this one!!!!!

I want more of Kizzy and Jack :)

you tease...

but a good tease, my love

xxx d

sundaycynce said...

I agree with DJPare---I'm not sure whether I want you to finish it or whether it is better as is, left to our imagination. But I know it drew me in. It is magic! And, I was NOT ready for it to end. I kind of expected grandmother with her stilleto to come to Kizzy's rescue---that's how into its magic I was.

Really a terrific story!! Thanks.

meghan said...

oooh... that was positively wicked, Laini! MORE, please, MORE MORE MORE!!!