Figuring It Out

Author’s Note: These prompts are my attempt at working on writing fiction. I may not always follow the cards exactly, but I am working on writing fiction.

Fight The Giant - Cards against normality prompt: Talk it out - if your hero and the antagonist had an honest discussion, what would they say to each other?

List three locations or situations in which your hero and your adversary could talk at length.

Imagine a conversation between your hero and his younger self. What advice would he give?

Brainstorm three characters your hero could confide in.

Highland 2

What might I say to someone who comes at me with something else every time I turn around?

When I was younger and the neighbor boys used to pick on me, I stayed as far away from them as I could.

This won't work for me today. Today I don't need those neighbors to torture me.

My neighbors are great.

Okay, time to get out of the shower and get ready for the day. I think I will go to Caribou this morning and call to meet Peggy there. I am really struggling with this and can't seem to set it aside, even for an hour lately.

Peggy will meet me there after her group. I can't wait, I know we can get this figured out. She may even have some words of wisdom for me in this situation.

Peggy, I am hurt, wounded really. I can't understand how you could allow this to go on. You were my friend and now, what? We aren't friends anymore? Just like that?

"What are you talking about? You are the one that made that decision! I never set that ball rolling. You did. I simply said that you are so mean to yourself. You are your own worst enemy. You are my hero, and why can't you be your own hero for a change."

You didn't say that! You said, if I can't be my own hero for a day, then you were not going to keep encouraging me, as you have been asking me to see myself that way. I figured it was just a bunch of counseling crap, and you really wanted nothing more to do with me. You don't like me, just the way I am. I am no hero.

"Okay, have it your way. I am sorry if you felt like I was counseling you. I was expressing something I've wanted to say to you for a long time. I see you as a hero to many, and I do not want to hear you putting yourself down anymore. I simply asked that you try to see yourself as your own hero for a day."

Well, then to not hear from you for a month was terrible for me. I thought you were my friend and I have been second guessing that. I know friends don't always get along, but for our friendship to be over. I just could not get over it.

"Our friendship is not over. I simply felt like we needed a break. A timeout."

Okay, well I can do that. How much time do you think we need?

"It isn't just up to me. How much time do you need?"

I need enough time to figure out how I can be my own hero!

"Thank you! We will check in next week or whenever you get that figured out."

I have an appointment, sorry to cut this short, and I feel like we have made progress. Thank you for getting together today.

When spending time on my daily walk, I noticed a family swimming at the beach. They were all in the water when the excitement happened. One of the smaller rafts tipped over when a wave came up and then the other.

There was panic in the air. None of the family had realized how far out they had gone. Or how deep the water was.

It was important for me to run down and see if I could be of service. One of the adults had one child and was swimming for shore. The other adult was closer to the beach and was swimming out to bring another child back in to shore when the waves hit the other raft and the child went under water.

Because I was a lifeguard and a strong swimmer I swam past the woman swimming out. I was able to find the child in the water and bring her back to shore. The parents were so appreciative. And I was glad I could help.

Now, I had to hurry to my next appointment. I had scheduled a meeting to go over my taxes. In sitting with the tax man, he asked how I was doing, and I said, I am my own hero today. I explained what I was talking about and how that was important for me today, and he said, "And you are my hero today too!"