Chapter 10 – Pride and Extreme Prejudice

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife…

“…or a life or at least something like that.” charmingly chimed Greg Vestal
“I acknowledge it” acknowledged Miranda G. Gilliam enjoying romantic literary references while running around the world much like Noble Nikki Robertson along with Amanda Garcia, Lori McCarty, Sandy Kreps and Wendi Medling.

Therapist Beth Lewis grabbed the progressively narrative mic and said….
“Yes, and as everyone knows acknowledgement is power.  Therefore it should also be acknowledged that everyone may not know it at the exact same time.  The consequences of that happening are too much to disclose at this part of the story, however it is safe to say that everyone will come to this understanding at least some point in their life.”

David Ristuccia boldly hijacked the microphone channel to give history lessons on the bad ass men and women that have all acknowledged this.  Among them he noted David Ristuccia for his power lifting persona and of course his fair cousin Rachael Bower and the Marvelous Mikaila Munoz who were both making their way as a mermaid and a sexy lobster which is the hidden meaning to him always suggesting you take your fish oil.

Amy Beth Hinkhouse-Dunavant proposed that they should all acknowledge it at the same time just to see what would happen.  Carrie Campbell Gerdes, Christie Douglas and Nick Kriofske all being the acknowledgement daredevils they all were quick to volunteer.

Joel Ferrell felt it could be more powerful adpated for the stage. Katharine O’Sullivan Spadacenta stepped up as the stage manager and the cast was quickly assembled including Cheryl Ammeter, Jessica Hoffman, Stephanie Dunnam, Stephanie Renee and Debbie Ramsey Lofland.  Shawn Patrello insisted there be clowns or “mechanicals” and Mark C Guerra (Markasaurus Rex) insisted on fairies.  Debbie Ramsey Lofland insisted they do the show in the dirt and Fred Curchack said he would just do it all himself with a few puppets and a some bic lighters for lighting.  John Venable thought he would hold out for Martin Scorese to direct him with Steve Martin. Joe Chapa supported that choice.

Eldon Wriston, Shane Owens and Bella Eden Alexander-Johnson all realized they had something magical. Daniel Driensky and Darlene Hammond thought they would help get the word out and organized an awareness campaign

“What shall we call this production?” posed Wendy Powell
“Batdad vs Superteacher” immediately contributed Daniel Thomas Jones
“Dead Bloggers Society” threw in Krystal Gable
“The Never Ending Birthday Story” offered Elizabeth Owens and everybody silenced in agreement, then cheered at the pure resonance of it.

Haven Powers asked if there would be a Luck Dragon and Sher Jean Bear assured her there would be a variety of dragons.  Jamy Porter also demanded there be Bounty Hunters and Sith Lords with fabulous hair.  Benjamin Davis mentioned he has a place for that.

The creative group began rehearsals, production meetings and publicity campaigns while Patricia Pell and Charity HopperMotorplex Jones presented the celebratory cake and lit the candles.

What they may not have yet realized is that each candle they lit was a world that was burning.  Kimberly Kay Lucas acknowledged she was the bright light of one candle as the others were lit.  Morgan McClure let her light shine it created a shadow on everyone else.  Laurel Hoitsma filled those shadows with her light.

As the light got brighter and brighter one might think it could not possibly be brighter. “That is what one might call limits” said Law Michael Sullivan and his alter ego Lawrence Sullivan.

Jamie Matlock said “I don’t subscribe to limits“.  Theresa Vance and Kristin Sutton Ford nodded in agreement.
“I don’t believe they really exist” added Deborah Longworth with all her Urbanity.
“I will have to agree.  Any limits I thought I had I created myself” admitted the AmaZING Mikaila Muñoz Lotierzo.
“Well if we create our own they still exist” debated Maggie Grant.
“I like to refer to a limit as a #TIMIL.  That’s limit spelled backwards to remind me I created it” contributed Jennifer Besser.

By this time all the candles were lit and the light was brighter than they all imagined.  They began to transcend their reality and each emerged surrounded by their wishes.

Paige Nash, Steve Luce and Darlene Munger wishes all popped up like bubbles in the air, or in the water, or in space.  Lauren Dunnaway, Frieda Austin and Elias Sahwani had as many wishes as there were grains of sand in an hourglass.

While blinded by the brilliance, brighter lights seems to shoot from the center.  Sandy Degen Ledbetter, Jennifer Eiffert and Carol Reed were each brighter than the sun but streaked across the brightness like a firework. Jamie Matlock and Adrianna Cervantes Grinke were like lasers. Louisa Lawless and Don Long where like shooting stars.

Elvis Monroe and Pamela Ann knew these lights had to come from someplace.

“They come from here” answered Gwendolyn Michelle Phillips gesturing towards a source.  The funny thing is no matter who was looking, they all saw the same thing.  It did not matter if it was Taylor Rea, Carrie Campbell Gerdes or Traci Towers Clark.  They saw the same source that Dianne Kelly Samoff II and Dianne Samoff III saw.  It was as if they were looking into a mirror when they looked into the light.  William Bill Gartin and Brandon Enriquez all saw the same thing, but they all saw something unique.

Guy Robison said “It’s our heart light.”
“Whoa, slow down there Neil Diamond” quipped Chris Garcia Peak.
“He’s right!” said John D Kolinofsky
“The light of the world is in my heart” realized Derek Phillips
“What color is yours?” asked Cathrine Hatcher  “The color matters”

“Mine is silver-ish” said Joseph Di Lorenzo
“Mine is green” said Tom Green
“So is mine.  It’s the color of love” said Melissa Knight
“Mine is pink.  I think pink is the color of love” Michelle Polvado
Brenda Johnson and Brenda Johnson both chimed in and said “Mine is purple”
“I’d say mine is azure” added Jordan Roth
“We can all be right.  We can all be love” claimed DeDe Boozer
“Not today!” Cried Eric Dobbins
“Today only I can be right” demanded Cynthia Kirchner
“There can be only one!” proclaimed the beautiful Jessika Bouyer

And as silly as it sounds that was the dawn of prejudice.
“Extreme Prejudice” added Gabriel Wheaton going for title credit.

Anthony Skibell Ph D harmonized a sound and #OurPro appeared with an understanding smile. Kristen Prezbindowski and Heather Sanford understood and said that’s why you always see her with a skull.
“In homage to Shakespeare?” asked Kevin Brandon understanding it’s his Birthday too.
“In homage to all things” said #OurPro placing one hand on the shoulder of Anne Young Fritsche and the other on Jessica Layman “And what is your wish?”

 

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Chapter 8- 60 Characters In Search Of An Author

“Shots Fired!” misused an apathetic and ironically misunderstood millennial because this was indeed a serious situation and not a simple verbal assault over interpersonal trivia.  This is not to say that verbal assaults on the internet are trivial or that this epic war of superheroes is just part of the natural order of the chaos in the universe.  It simply is.

Lou Smith and Brenda Lindenberg Stanton both felt this is the time to put a disclaimer that the names and situations in this story may be real or fictional but may reflect real life and certainly does not reflect the exclusive view or possibly any part of the views of the people that embody those names or the author in perpetuity throughout all the infinite  Universes. Elizabeth Wright would also like to add if they might seem to be true or based on real events that is entirely up to you and your imagination.  Chris McMurtry wanted to encourage the taking of flash photography or low-light or with filters all under the preferred hashtag (Might I suggest #HappyTSBday, #Shanespeare or #OurPro). Mike Salcido wanted to thank all the artists that made this possible, and also the car with the License Plate THX 1138 left their lights on and it was causing too much lens flare for Nikki DeShea Smith‘s fantastic light design.

Now  Sandi Bailey brings us back to the story from the front lines of this super battle.

Angela Raelene McGuire signaled she was ready to engage as she always enjoyed a fray for the right reasons.  Lauren Godfrey Patterson,  Ashley Head and Dixie Still got in position.

“I have the shot” affirmed Scarlett McAlister Harris.
“Then take it” commanded Daniel R States.

The shot was taken and quickly enhanced by Dalton James and the Prince of Pisces, Fan of the Fishes Mycal Sykes because it is what they do and they know how to work their craft.

So do the others.  Just then Greg Grayson dropped a joke grenade to bring us back to the story.  Jamie Wollrab waited for it to go off and then had to explain that is when you tell a joke but it doesn’t hit its audience right away.  However, since he had to explain it he felt people still were not laughing it was a dud… or maybe you were just not meant to get it.  Yet.

Cristela Carrizales reminded us to Beware the Ides of March right after Pie Day but Meg Shideler, Laura Laine and Taylor Munholland were already dressed in green leading the parade right out of the ironic land to the land down under while Mia Rae and Shelly Koehler were flipping their real estate like no one has ever seen.

Laurie McNair and Tiffany Williams skeptically joined the parade and as they saw it heading toward a large ship on the water they both thought at the exact same time.  “Deja Vu“.  They both said looking at each other”Pinch Poke, you owe me a Coke“.  They pinched each other starting a trend, like they do.  Monalisa Amidar pinched Bono and Nathan Allen Pinard pinched The Riddler.  However when Laura Reeves pinched Captain America he vanished!   POOF!  Gone!  This is when things started getting very interesting.

Laurie Williamson pinched the Green Lantern and he smiled and thanked her for keeping him relevant.  She though to herself “I’m Smart!” like people do and saw Batman and Superman promoting their movie and thought this would be a good time for her to take her own justice on Batfleck.  She got close and pinched him and nothing happened.

Rest assured you are not the only one disappointed with these circumstances.  Well… technically something happened, but it wasn’t the result she was going for.  Superman asked if she was with him and the mouth breathing Batfleck said “I thought she was with you” confirming they are going for the simplest dialogue ever spoken by superheroes.

Fiona Ann Norton interrupted them saying that since Batman didn’t have Robin or someone to say something along the lines of “Holy Green Thumb Batman, those not wearing green disappear when pinched.” She thought she would explain with her proper dialect to help move things along and we thank her for it.

Erin Treadway pinched the Hulk and there was no reaction and of course Ironman was hovering just out of reach.  Melissa Hartman Couture pinched Wonder Woman and she Poofed and Melissa coined the term “Pinch Poof!”  Why is it that those wearing green were immune to the Pinch Poof wondered Vivian Jimenez Hall.

Diamond Jim and Randy Tinkle were bummed that Wonderwoman was PinchPoofed so they started pinching everybody not wearing green causing a wide spread panic, even though the green smiley faced said “Don’t“.

“Easy for you to say” provoked Zelmer Phillips “You’re nothing but a green smiley mouth“.
“And I’m not” said Steve Davis as a classic diversion allowing Eric Soto-Riggle to get close enough to Superman to pinch him but nothing happened.

“Why didn’t that work?” asked Dylan Hollingsworth.

“Because he wasn’t pinched by someone wearing green” explained Mary Williford Bayer.

Suddenly Batman pinched Superman and Superman Pinch Poofed followed by a thunderous applause from a variety of people wearing green or not.  Lisa B. Whitfield thought about pinching Batfleck but Ashlee James McCollom just walked right up and asked to pinch him.  Batfleck nodded, or maybe he was just looking down as such a sad Batman does, either way there was a pinch and he remained.  There was no Pinch Poof for Batman, not even the Ben Affleck one.

Herschel Alan Weisfeld demanded an explanation because there was absolutely no green visible on Batman, but the mouth breathing crime fighter finally closed his mouth to make an uncomfortable smile and reveal he was wearing kryptonite underwear.

“Ohh!” explaimed Donald Wayne Brown Jr. not exactly sure how he felt about that.

Lara Seibert Young loaded the last few from the green parade onto the ship and those not wearing green were scattering for the hills.  Jenni Tooley advised everyone to show their green and Hilary Tipps asked where the ship was going.

“Probably to the moon” suggested Chris Spinks as there has been much of that going on.
Jorge Luis Davila led a team on the ground to break up the battle as Batman asked Mike Daniel what his secret identity was since it’s a dead give away that you are a super hero if your secret identity has 2 first names.  Jeramie Crawford suggested that they not reveal his hero yet because then you’ll just get into fights with other superheroes.

“It’s all the rage these days” agreed Kristy Krüger but when you have all the feelings as a Pisces, a comic conflict is the last thing you want or need.  Diana Faro Daugherty and Russ Pond agreed.

As the ship left dock and powered out to sea towards the almost full moon Carie Welborn-Bair and Caramie Cason watched mermaids and Aquamen followed singing each to each.

Michael Brower noticed a man in a toga on the bow of the ship with his arms spread like he was King of the World.  Alicia G. Thomasson mentioned all of these heroes are people that she’s recently been reading about and that was Julius Caesar.  Bunny Miles Rothrock and Lynn Kawano noticed he was not wearing green.  The world leader turned to see he was about to be pinched into oblivion.  All he could say is “Etu Mia Rae“

 

Chapter 7- Well Wishes Through A Wishing Well

It is wished that one day in the future one might say it’s an old saying; “To survive a broken heart makes you a better person”.  To say today who’s wish it is may jinx it, but in this moment twice as many eyes were closed as they made their wish and blew out their candles.

Jessy Black had exponentially more candles than her planetary clone Judy Smith Blackwell, so Linda Wallace pointed out that gave her exponentially more wishes as she sat back and sassed and sipped.  Shannon Kearns maximized the epic emotional exponent of the event as Terry Brink nursed them all in recovery.

Joshua Dennis must have wished for a light because he was all a glow, which was handy since everyone was in the dark since the candles were blown out.  Audrey Tennant led everyone in a serene prayer which Marie Del Marco commented on was a great way to understand the infinite spectrum of emotions they were all feeling at this party.

It was indeed an emotional time.  Terry Ash Ebbo, Montie Jo Burgy and Logan Maxwell Green were tending to a group of crying guests and Jason Acton asked what was wrong.

“Nothing!” respectfully replied Cynthia Santiago.  “They’re actually very happy“.
“Why all the tears?” he politely probed.
“If you’re not a Pisces you wouldn’t understand.” affirmed Kristine Mansour Armentor.

Haley Esposito and Etty Horowitz nodded and sipped their drink while Laura Lutz Jones and Karen Wiley commented on the snacks and Donald McLaughlin wrote a script about the party favors.  Of course Lydia Mackay, Andrew Aguilar and Heather Forsythe asked about auditions and Lee Jamison wished she could fit it in between saving all the kittens in the animal kingdom.

Jocelyn White and Christie Renee Welch were wishing in one hand and I would be no gentleman if I were to say what they were doing in the other.  (Lisa Moore says she will tell you if you really want to know)

 Shana Anderson was serving drinks like Bettie Martini and Mallory Malapeño Carrick was pouring shots while Carmen Dexter was serving books that Tiffany Riley was humorously interpreting for those physical comedy connoisseurs Arthur Morton, Kiki Curry Winters and Celeste Rogers.  Amanda Mount Hunter, Candy Buckley and Carolyn Collins cut a rug on the dance floor as José Bowen led the band in a funky new groove.  All was chill until the thrill of Kevin Long letting the dogs out.  As he did he noticed on the horizon a league of Spartan Race Warriors led by Matt Nguyen and backed up by Stephen Brodie, Scott White, Jeremy Escobar, Eric Gacia and Trey Birkhead in his 5.0.  As Matt removed his duct tape helmet he commanded to his troops….

“SPARTANS!  Prepare for Gloriiiious Birthday Cake!“

“Aroo!  Aroo!  Aroo!” they all said wondering if it was Gluten Free and exactly how many burpees would be involved.  As they stormed down the ridge to the party the moon eclipsed leaving them all in darkness once again.

“This is pretty cool” acknowledged  Brandon J. Walker as Brad Ward added
“I’m prepared” lighting up his torch as did Shawn Gann down in the party camp.

The two lights traveled to each other just as the new moon reached it’s total eclipse of the heart and then once again, as before, there was an unmistakable sound.  Everyone looked toward it and once again, the moon seemed to be a portal transporting visitors from another world.

There was another crack of thunder followed by a downpour of something other than rain.

“OUCH!” complained Wale Akin getting hit in the head with what he thought was hail, but turned out to be cold, hard cash with an emphasis on the cold and hard.
“Coins!” identified Brad Hartliep
“Yes, but they don’t seem to be from around here” observed Douglas D Martin
“And they all seem to be coming up heads instead of tails” warned Becca Shivers 
“What’s that?”asked Abi Abel pointing to a tiny light which grew larger as it got closer.
“Maybe it’s a shooting star” hoped Jerry Martin as she made yet another Birthday Wish.
“Maybe it’s a soul” theorized John M. Flores
“Looks to me like a train” pondered Margaret Ponder
“It’s a SOUL TRAIL!” zinged Roxy Hernandez with her coming timing and dry wit

Robyn Fletcher Acevedo pointed right at you as you laughed for validation that you are developing an expanding sense of humor as well as imagination.Kevin Jeffers pushed everyone to shelter as the train glanced the ridge and came down towards the party camp.  All the hopes and wishes came through the portal in the eclipse but everyone was too busy scrambling from oncoming train to notice. Jessica Foster and Michelle McElree stood like a dear in the headlight until Tom Urquhart pulled them from the path just in time.

The train slowed and stopped right at the camp as if it was exactly what it intended to do.  Steam, smoke, dust danced in clouds of electric zapping as passenger cars doors opened and people flooded out.  Stefany Cambra and Eimilie Mitchell emerged wearing exceedingly fashionable steam punk attire.  Jacqueline Pettit, Eric Wilder and Josh Hepola emerged at the caboose with what might have been strange weapons.  There seemed to be others but they were hard to pinpoint in the commotion.  Just as the clouds seem to settle and light began to return the train blew it’s horn so loud everyone covered their ears.  The engine turned off and the door raised open to reveal a man in a top hat carrying a large wooden box.  He dropped it down on on the ground to make a stair and two chucks appeared.  As people looked it it was #OurPro.  Her voice seemed to be amplified as she said…

“I heard it was your Birthday”

Chapter 5-Worlds Collide

The ship of wise witty fools traveled down the river of dreams.  As it began to pick up speed, the wind blew through Jay Bird‘s hair and Stormie McLeod uttered “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” and as it seemed as it it was going toward the dark circle of a new moon turned out to be some sort of black hole pulling the boat toward them.

“Full Reverse!” cried Shelly Brooks as acting Captain.
“It’s no use.  We’re caught in some sort of tractor beam” Stephanie Daniels pessimistically reported.
“At least it’s not an ice berg!” optimistically reported Rowena Cruz Trovada.
“That’s no moon” quipped Laiken A. Thompson.
“Or Luna De Noche!” checked Yumiko Takahashi.
“I am feeling some gravity waves” discovered Amanda Rose Sullivan.
“Einstein was RIGHT!?” yelled Taylor Reed
“Oh NO!  So was rapper B.o.B.  The Earth is flat as a 4 year old Coke” reluctantly admitted Ilumin Avila.
“Hang on to your butts because here we go!” warned Gretchen Bell.
Novie Bowden, the real captain of the ship, took the wheel and went full steam ahead.

The riverboat launched off the edge of the Earth as the water and air and light swirled about going into the ominous dark circle like a cosmic drain flushing out all of existence. From the inside it seemed like the boat in the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory crashed into Dorothy’s Tornado Ride in the Wizard of Oz!

“I can’t feel my legs” commented Claire Alexander.
“I can’t feel my arms” agreed Heather Wiese
“I can’t feel my face when I’m with you” joked Gavin Perry.
“I think we are out of our bodies” theorized Elizabeth Marshall.
“I think therefore I’m…” started Stephanie Hall
“We are all out of our damned minds!” concluded Ronn Robinson.
“My God! It’s Full Of Stars” quoted Super Spartan Vonda Wilson

The spinning got tighter, the spirals faster and the light brighter until suddenly there was nothing but deafening silence… and then… NOT EVEN THAT!

Some might argue that was the end, unless you understand that every ending is a beginning and every exit is an entrance someplace else.

Meanwhile, someplace else Daniel Huntley Solon was flying through a silent night with his Icarus wings when suddenly a light appeared ahead.  He began to slow his roll as the light seemed to get brighter.  Thinking it might be ancient aliens he cautiously approached.  As he inched closer the light exploded with a bang that sent Daniel falling to the enchanted land below.

Fannie Brito, Britt McEachern Coke, Siobhan Antonioli and Natali Jones pulled out a parachute from an art installation they were collaborating on to catch the falling Daniel. He folded up he wings and rolled off the parachute as they embraced him to be sure he was alright.  “What is that?“he asked, but the four artistic ladies had no idea.  Chandler Kaye and Vanessa Neil came running up to help but all were amazed and hypnotized by this new light in the sky and there was a loud sound since the explosion.  Just then a long elegant limousine pulled up and Aimee Ramsey rolled down the window and told them all to get in.  They did and the pulled off toward the lights of what appeared to be a nearby city.

The limo left a trail of kicked up dust that was spotted from the camp of dancers and renaissance fair folk.  Akai Draco gave the battle cry and rallied the forces and William Riddle trained everyone for combat but in a way that nobody really gets hurt.
“Sound the alarms” ordered Liz Finkle of the Praetorian Digital Guard
“They’re on the move” announced Laura Mccarthy.
“Let’s be smart about this.  We will have to be crafty to infiltrate them undetected” led Gregory Lush.  “We must do our best acting as well as look our best“.
“That’s my cue” jumped Michelle Lorelei Lee as she rolled out what seemed like miles of garment racks of everything imaginable.  Mindy Loll deputized a dozen fashion police as Katie Condry managed the line as everyone got ready to follow the limo’s trail to the city as if they were native that belonged there.  Marcus Blake and Kristin McCollum divided them into teams to increase their chances of success.

Before they could pursue the limo the light in the sky exploded again with such an impact there was no day or night, only love and light.  Everything looked different until out of it spewed the rain, thunder, riverboats and fairies and fools.  Everyone was shocked and awed in the true sense of the words.  To say it was a blackhole-tornado-hurricane-earthquake-flood all at the same time would be an understatement.

First was the sound of the thunder.  Not that romantic and powerful rolling thunder, but that suck your breath out of your lungs cracking thunder that makes you feel like you’ve just been shot.

Del Alan Murphy screeched like a little girl as Anne Beyer screamed like a grown ass man.
Not that there was anything wrong with either as it was quite an experience.  Even the Majestic Merritt Martin would be inspired to document the event through word and video if it were possible, but it were not so simple.  Action needed to be be taken right away; from everyone involved.

As the water hit the ground the splash made a wave over a mile high.  Marcy Barnes and Evan Figg both anchored themselves in a little oxygen bubble to protect them.  Liz Jackson Donegan, Angela Parsons Smith and Abby Rupp warned the nearby communities to brace for impact and as a result saved dozens of lives.  Scott Simons and Brande Taylor grabbed their boards and surfed the wave toward the city.  Fortunately the “splash down” was not in a very populated area.

Then down came the riverboat with a crash but somehow stayed in one piece.  Candice Jones and Rebekah Lynn Bruflodt assisted the crew to their feet and reported the minor injuries to Allie Burdette and Jeff Rogers who tended to them immediately.  Philip Bentham made sure they still served Tea on time and Stephanie Rhodes and Marla Jo Kelly were thankful for the dedication to tradition in the face of such unusual circumstances.

Bob Carter looked up and noticed the portal of light began to collapse.  As his pointed hand raised to the sky his jaw fell down hoping some word would fall out, but none did.
“How will we ever get back?” quietly pondered Jessica McClendon.
“Why would you want to?” also pondered Cecil O’Neal
“Where are we?” asked Larry Duncan to further the story line.
“Where do we go from here?” continued Megan Mayo
“Forward! No matter the obstacles in our path” marched Samantha Elizabeth McCrocklin

As the portal closed the lights faded to night and into what appeared to be the full moon once again.  Brande Taylor suggested they continue with the riverb0at for as far as they could and Kelly Tomlinson and Mark Deffebach played some music to take everyone’s mind off the transformation that just took place.  All aboard honored the memory of Charlie Freeman while they contemplated if they was all their birthday being born to this new reality.  Or this new dimension.

Ken Panosh lit his cigar and kicked back to enjoy the ride and the riverboat made it’s way along the surface of the new river. Hollee A McMurray and Sharon Spriggs Williams led everyone in birthday dances and festivities. Tana Bales and Ambre Low made everyone their favorite Birthday drinks and Lisa Devine showcased her latest work.  Elida Dakoli made everyone feel extra special and before long it was like they had no idea they were journeying into a brave new world.

Meanwhile the limo made it to the city limits before the waves hit.  Anita Mahram opened the gates and Andrea Jenkins and Shannon Mikles greeted them.  As they all emerged from the limo a team of military like officials surrounded the car in a very organized fashion.  However, instead of weapons, they were carrying musical instruments.

“Musical Instruments can be weapons!” corrected Eddie Healy swinging his ax around and breaking the fourth wall while striking a chord cuing Elizabeth Annunziato, James Clayto, Randee Smith Prez and Lori Sundeen Soderbergh all to struck a pose.  Then they did a battle dance instead of just rolling in with guns, they rolled in with movement music and emotion.  “A much more intimidating weapon in my opinion.” coined Christoph Buelman.  Paula Sheppard Coco and  Laura Bartlett nodded in agreement.

“Good” said Daniel “Because something otherworldly is here.”
“We better tell the authorities” suggested Arma Fitzgerald.
“Not like this.  We need to freshen up” Lori Fomby
“You mean like a Spa Day?” asked Natalie Burkhart rather enthusiastically.
“More like the getting ready to see the Wizard” sourced Ashley W Dane

As the music played, Daniel and the artsy attendees all prepped to meet the authorities.
John McCaa reported on their fashion choices which seemed by the way everybody was getting ready for a date of a lifetime or maybe a wedding made one wonder who the authorities were in this dimension.  Not to them of course because this WAS their reality.

The water reached the city and everyone seemed happy about it.  Shortly behind the waves of water was Trevor Perry and Alan Dudley leading a team of the dancing fair folk in the mountains.  As one glanced back to the city they saw Bryan Lankford leading another such troop with Kat Daddee, AlleSandra Singel and Kathleen DeForest.  Since they were making an effort to be stealthy one might imagine they were not a fan of the authorities going on alert.

Back inside the city gates Daniel found himself leading a parade to the central tower. Sandi Scott, Lucia Welch, Gary Teague, Rhiannon Houston, Jennifer Glanton all stood on a float right behind him doing royal waves and confetti and flower pedals showered down from the windows.  Lissa Duty met them at the doors to the central tower and allowed Daniel through.

 Thomas Charles LeGalley, Jennifer Perryman and Clay Liford all raised a fuss because they wanted to join but Lissa reminded them they all have their own festivities to attend to.  Peter Cykana and Tommy McCarthy toasted to that.  Susan Wx put on her invisible cloak and accompanied Daniel on the elevator completely undetected by Agent Sutherland Carter.

“What Floor?” Asked the elevator operator Misty Petty.  It had been so long since Daniel saw an elevator operator he didn’t know how to respond.
“The highest authority” said Susan risking blowing her cover but Misty just dismissed it as she had never heard Daniels voice before.  The elevator literally skyrocketed to the top floor, and when I say literally I mean in the original sense of the word.

That floor was 713 and obviously a tower that tall would have doors that would have to pressurize or de-pressurize before opening.  There was a hissing as Daniel walked into this air lock and Susan slipped in behind him.

Amanda Stucker and Hillary J Hart were on airlock duty and prepped them to speak with the highest authority.  Sam Nicholson opened the door and led him to the chamber filled with windows and there she was, in silhouette with her back to him for dramatic effect.

“I’ve been expecting you.” she said in a voice familiar to both Daniel and Susan.
“I know you.” said Daniel and Susan simultaneously.

“You should.  I am the one you call #OurPro and you have been expected here so I can tell you your time has come“.

 

Chapter 4 – A New Hopeful Moon

Darkness fell across the land as a cloaked discombobulated figure skulked through night without as sound.  Wise men such as Wylie H Dallas say that if you are not present in the moment you cannot see the figure.  Other cynics such as Mack Herbert say it’s just imagination and Shannon Lee Dyson argued it is a stress monster and everyone needs to chill out.  Little did they know they could all be right.  “So SO RIGHT!” echoed Amber Womack Skipper  Little did they know they could all be wrong.  “So so wrong” worried Steven Jeffers.

AND when I say “So So Wrong” I mean to emphatically stress Soo Soo wrong, much like those that still know which “2 “to use in a sentence might say “too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew” and not be apathetically confused with “so so” as in not one extreme or another.

Those with a Class C Creative License such as Brandi Andrade, Alana Macías de Cortes and Larry D. LeMaster know what I am talking about as they also have a current one and support breaking the fourth wall (or Drew Wall as he likes to call it) in writing.  So lets continue.

The figure glided by a distracted Curtis Raymond Shideler completely undetected and right in the path of Jennifer Roe without skipping a step and cut in line in front of Shannon Knipp without missing a beat.  The figure slipped between Raven Jacobs and Whitney Kelley who were discussing conservative politics while the businessmen slowly get stoned.

Finally, the keen Patrick McAlister noticed the mysterious figure and got the attention of Rob Hood by tapping him on the shoulder and nodding in the direction of the mysterious figure.

“What in the world?” Whispered Andrew Redd
“Could it be the spirit of the missing Doctor?” Asked Mark Fickert
“Perhaps it’s the ghost of Spot Acus Yasso Yang” Pondered Trae Morgan
“I think we should pursue it, just to see what’s going on.” Stated Craig Norris

James Beasley hopped in his hearse (All Dukes of Hazzard Style) as Katy Polito, Helen Woodrum, Belinda Boyd, Monica Moody and Nicole Holt piled in.  They crept along behind Anja Holweg power walking with her German efficiency and long legs.

 William Shane Thompson followed ringing a bell, and like some sort of Pavlovian response people started to form a parade. Andrea Reich Fender emerged with her fashionable entourage from an upscale art gallery and fell in line with Dora Chu and the fashion police.  Candice Ordered Steps Johnson and Diana Tucker followed too.

Before long the cloaked figure was leading a parade of followers through the Haunted French Quarter.  Alexis Jo and Maria Hildreth Zsohar danced behind a float featuring Knizza Live, Chris Bartee, Jim Cady,Dean Lindsay, Peter Elkin, Thomas Jacob Lovelace, Gleb Tarro all throwing beads to those gathering in the streets.  Even Gloria Smith who was working security got distracted from her conversation with Monique Childers about training and both were caught up in the spell.

Kevin Hunt juggled fire around Lorca Simons brilliant puppet, mask and mime work.  She was leading a troupe featuring the sexy and sassy vixens of Vixens Vaudeville and League of Lovely Ladies Bettie Pink, Vivienne Vermuth, Shanna Lee, Amber Williams, Naima Lett, Brooke Hamblet and Amber Garton.

Matt Barron, Stephanie Ward-Pierre and Christi Dalton Whitworth were dancing the dance in the streets and scooped up by the parade.

There were pirates and ninjas fight dancing and dance fighting depending on your perspective.  Sarah Saathoff was doing flips and Metsy showing off with her forward rolls.  Kathy Robinson-Hays, Elizabeth Dewhirst and Adrian Santiago had a tumbling act that would make the most experience acrobat envious.  Stephen Kirkham, Lindsay McEllen James and Chad Kelly Dotson were making music as Citlalli Smith played her cello on a nearby float while Rich Frohlich made sure they sounded amazing.

This parade now filled the streets and swelled into the walkways and climbed the walls.  Linda Jackson rode on the shoulders of James Warila.  The lovely Joyau Pénard was nominated the princess of the parade and her court displayed the most breathtaking international fashion the world as ever seen displayed by Angel Anderson, Adriana I. Romero and Tamara Voss.

The mysterious figure led them all to the largest riverboat they have ever seen.  There was no hesitation whatsoever from the crowd.  Lyzz Kirk danced wildly down the boarding plank with no rails or guards.  The plank bowed and bounced like a guitar string as Daniel Sandoval, Delfina Bedarte, and Noel Lucky Brucker plucked aboard.  Breonny Lee and Donatelle Mascari noticed the ripples of the water matching the beat, or rather the pulse of the massive combined energy of party, yet the cloaked figure had yet to make a sound.

Silently slipping up stairs and ladders to the higher decks the figure slipped past Clifton Hall who was guarding the door to the wheel house.

Kenneth Fulenwider had the wheel and halted the figure before you could go any further.

“You do not have permission to come aboard!” he declared rather bravely.

The figure paused, untied the rope belt that made him resemble a Frangelico bottle and removed its hood.  The cloak fell to the ground to reveal Steven Hacker II on the shoulders of Frankie Garcia III!

“SURPRISE!” busted Hacker as he jumped down to fire up the engines.  “We’ll be takin this boat” he then said in an unsuccessful attempt to sound like a pirate.

Rick Spivey and Zachary Stefaniak charged them but Frankie took them out so effortlessly next thing you knew they were asleep on the floor, and not hurt or injured in any way.  Steve gave the signal and his masquerading troops engaged the next phase of the over elaborate plan usually led by mysterious figures in cloaks.

“Just like Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi!” Referenced Stephanie Butterfield

Jennifer Culp and Nancy Soto untied the boat from the dock and Heather Dinning Perry retracted the plank.  Cheryl Reedy cranked the music and Lori Garcia dimmed the lights.  Kenne Earl and Kathleen Terbeek began to sing captivating the guests and crew as the boat left the dock on the still water that reflected the wide smile of the moon of the almost new moon.

Robin Clayton for one was thrilled at the hope for a new adventure as was Tiffany Bryan who is always up for an unexpected journey.  Jackie Kobe started a new “Ships Blog, Stardate Now point Now Two!”

“We got company!” Bobby Friske noticed as they headed out to International Water.
“Looks like the U.S. Armed Forces!” commented Megan Myers

Lindsay Martin Walser with the Air Force, Molly Mitchell with the Navy (Call Sign: GOOSE!) and U.S. Marine Allie Shane were all awaiting orders to engage, but none came as the moon went out into total darkness.

“A New Moon! But not in a Twillight Novel kinda way” joked Comedian Mo Zan
“Thank Goodness!” chimed Diana Wickman

From the shadows a beautiful olive skinned woman with green eyes removed her masquerade mask.  She beckoned for those that saw her to follow her.

“Don’t do it!  What if she be a spirit to tempt you to the water!?” Worried Pamela Ward
“Lets both follow and we will stick together.” Explained Mardi Allen

They followed the woman to the bowels of the ship where they found 2 sleeping men holding a letter addressed to a King.  Those two men were David Jeremiah and  Christopher Dontrell Piper.

 

 

Chapter 3 – The Age of Aquarius

When the moon is in triple O seven’s house and the sunset is as vibrant as Scarlett Lauren‘s hair, a Gal-In South sent a word to King Tim Black with Kelly J Kitchens Wickersham talent for getting the word out and Marion Castleberry and Harry B. Parker tasteful direction in delivering a message in an artistic way.  Patriotic runner Tiffany Walker Hauerwas ran the word to Patriotic Flight Chief Tracy B. Lee who flew Naomi Valkyrie McDonald to the start line so they call call it the “Flight of the Naomi Valkyrie” with Keith Kubal who wanted to make sure the course went over as many Renaissance Faires as possible.

Lauren Gatlin decided to take advantage of the in-flight wi-fi and check-in with Lindsay Roche and Britanni Johnson and tagged the word through social media.  Since Bold Blogger Rhyanna Odom was in their row she showed them how to make the most of their post.  Chelsea Lee noticed they started trending and Rob Gonzo grew concerned that might target their flight by those that have incentives to keep the word a secret so he recruited Derik Gilpin and KP Smith to help come up with a plan.

Renee Anthony Sitton gave the signal Valerie Geare Chandler to proceed.  Valerie did her electrical magic on the emergency door allowing daredevils David Dawson and Dennis Raveneau to snatch up the word and jump out of the plane.  It should have been previously noted that that David and Dennis were not experienced or even well prepared daredevils as they did not have a parachute, but seems fitting to put that after the fact because it was about this time they had realized their mistake.

Now as we all know Jennifer Middleton Taylor and Crystal Merritt are big believers in positive thinking.  They were quick to point out this is an opportunity for us all to show our stuff.  Sirs Taylor Young and Richard Dean Johnson also inspired sprung into action with extra chutes and plunged after the seemingly doomed daredevils.

Famous Actor and Sky Captain to the Rich and Famous Bart Noggle was flying at a slightly lower altitude and saw the four skydivers and knew something must be wrong, so he fired up his afterburners to get in for a closer look.  He knew that if he was chartering the flight he would have made sure they had parachutes AND jet packs.  He put his plane on auto pilot and radioed Don Selasco to guide the plane in as he jettisoned himself out with the jet pack in pursuit of the skydivers.

Alida Jones watched and prayed from her window as Aaron Collins recommended they all do the same.  Tonja Maben secured the door to restore cabin pressure and then scolded those who did not put their oxygen masks on first before helping the children. Harold Y Valerie Huertas looked unimpressed knowing the day would be saved.

Bart grabbed one daredevil in each hand and the other two pulled their chutes and they safely landed in what appeared to be a Renaissance Faire judging by the dull swords and spandex.

Ryan Shreve ran up and bowed.  “All Hail the new King!” Coy Sevier and Jeff Baldwin swiftly appeared on the scene with lights and sirens.   “Stop in name of the law!” ordered Katie Casey.  The five raised their hands above their heads.
“Are we being detained?” Asked David
“You are under arrest for possession of an anachronistic jet pack and parachutes!” Commanded Coy.
“Anything you say will be improvised against you in the name of entertainment.” said Jeff.
“And charge them with breaking the fourth wall without creative license!”  added John Victor Allen.

“I have a creative license for working in Shane-Arts for over 2 decades!” defended Bart.
“When was the last time you had it renewed?” asked Peggy Stermer McMurtray.

Bart could not answer fast enough so Silky Hart Michero and Katie-Rose Watson took great pleasure in binding the hands and feet of the five new prisoners, the the five prisoners seemed to enjoy it more than they should.

“Take em away!” ordered Jeff and Coy.

“Where do we take them?” questioned Lindsay Roche

“Away!” Yelled everyone in unison!

“Take us to your leader.” pleaded Bart

“Let’s take em to the Queen. ” concluded Amy Wood

As they headed out a crowd of women had formed and where cheering and yelling various cliches such as “Off with their heads” by Ann Sheehan and “He’s a witch” by Bettye Zoller.

As they passed through various groves the shouted cliches seemed to come from various B-movies and cult classics.  As they came over the hill they could hear the music of Chris Arterburn and see the country dancers Candeda Michelle, Christi Smith Allen, Cat Preston and Christie Gard all choreographed by the talented Courtney Mulcahy.  Although this was supposed to be Renaissance Period music the prisoners all agreed it looks like the hippies form Hair singing the Age of Aquarius.  “That is what I was going for.” affirmed Courtney.

The beat blended into a fanfare followed up by Kami Kreaps announcing the Dancing Queen Anna Bananovna!

Carrie Breckenridge, CaSandra Cossey, Andrea Benningfield Roberts, Mara Richards Bim and Kristen Elizabeth Rice Jackson each stood behind their respective prisoner and dropped them to their knees in the presence of the Queen.

“Who are you?” She demanded in her sexy Russian accent

“Your devoted servants” charmed Bart.  After all this wasn’t his first rodeo and his charmed worked as she signaled for Gabriel Morgan Vinson to release them so they could dance.  Each of the prisoners took a dance partner and danced into each others eyes until there was not a care in the world.

That was until Burt Rutherford road up with Francis Alindogan in a Jeep with a Rpj Prod sticker on it.

“We are here to rescue you!” they said.

“Does it look like we need rescuing?” answered both Bart and Anna dancing in the pale moonlight.

For this moment, all seemed right with the world.

Chapter Two – B*Day Boogaloo

Meanwhile across town, on the wrong side of the other tracks, the mischievous Jenny Slocum was explaining to her honorable henchmen Manny Mendoza, Andrew Milbourn and William Brown how one way, or another, she was gonna find her and “Getcha Getcha Getcha Getcha“.

“Who is she?” asked Sean Patrick Henry rather sincerely.
“…or rather her?” corrected the marvelous Marmendy Welker Thompson

Jenny explained that the one she was referring to was the granter of Birthday wishes and that her name must be kept secret to build suspense for the story and also if you say her name three times she will manifest in the mirror of a bathroom when you turn out the lights.

“What are we even talking about?” exploded Ethan A Sheffield
“Yea.  So what!?” heckled Angela Cushing
“I don’t want to be in a dark bathroom!” popped Sarah Baranauskas

Jenny calmed and soothed everyone’s suspicions as she elaborated on how they were all very instrumental characters in the story.  Of course Amy Barrick and PJ Palmer wanted more details complete with charts and graphs and Michael MrHumanity Guinn knew he could explain it all better with rhythm and flow.

“What do we call her as so she doesn’t manifest?  Is it like ‘he who shall not be named’ or the Scottish King’“? asked thespian Julie Collmer Campbell

She shall be referred to only as #ourpro proclaimed Jenny.

After a skeptical and awkward pause, the fashion prince Dan Pritchett told the tale of how he once set his armada of fashionistas on a quest to find her but to no avail.  Ineka Guerra believes she is a story.  “The stuff of legend” reaffirmed Jamie Scharfschwerdt Nugent.

“I am the stuff of legend” cried Jenny!  “I taught her everything she knows!”  And now she just goes around using the power of the universe to grant everybody’s wishes.  “What does the think she is?”

“A Leprechaun?” asked Anna Loya.
“I think she means Genie“offered Deborah Marshall
“Rainbows, bottles, pots of gold, it’s all the same thing“concluded Mike Hathaway.
“My favorite film fantasies?” Sonny Boucher
“A product of our endangered environment.” suggested Maria Consuelo
Angel Unger pointed out that is the stuff for another blog.

“NO!  The stuff of dreams. Just like us.  If she is not stopped she can put our whole world in danger.  Who’s going to bring me her head? ” Jenny asked but her enthusiasm was not shared by anyone else.  Then in an effort to reconnect with her audience she said “I also want a taco.”

“YES!  That is a cause I am into” sassed Andres Ortiz.
“Me too!” said  Shakey Amy Behar.  “Right after Dystonia Awareness“.
“I LOOOVE TACOS!!!” sung Michelle Hames

Mark Hanson offered to drive but he could only take one person on his motorcycle, and he knew he wanted that person to be the charming and beautiful Chelsie Birks but Scott Prewitt had other plans jumping on the bike just before Chelsie could get her leg over.

“No Fair” she complained!  “I am the fairest of them all” Scott retorted.
“You are both silly” observed Antonia Hubert.  “We can all go in Captain Nick C Kirk‘s Starship”
“Or!  Or you can just let me cook for all of you.  I make great tacos” offered Linda P Nguyen
Dan Carro passed out some #TEAMTACO SWAG and Shaunda Terrell trained everyone to be #Lone Star Spartans while  Michelle Harvey put together an incredible design.  

So as they all agreed to stay and eat Linda’s tacos and form a strategic plan to find #ourpro.  All aside from Stephanie Patterson who thought the Dallas Stars would be there and would rather hang with her cat than pursue this mysterious wish granter. Kenneth Noisewater also declined because it was his Birthday not realizing the future of all Birthday wishes stood in the balance.  Sara Dawn Wilkins certainly got it and so they put the plan in motion.

As the full moon hit the sky like a big pizza pie, that’s… more of a cue than anything else.  A cue for Peggy Kruger-O’Brien to call “PLACES!” Jennifer Fortson, Noelle Mason and Kateri Cale and Angela Wilson to hit their marks while Lynne Dee, Ange la Roc and Kaylee Murray found their light. Bill Rhoten yelled “ACTION!”  Brandi Nicole to set her watch and started her epic run while Gregg Csikos and his crew to set sail leading the masses of mermaids led by Shanna Rozelle Baynton.  The over-elaborate plan was set in motion.

The soundtrack of the delightful Delores Elder-Jones played as Kelly Cochran Davis
and Shay Hall made sure the next phases were taking place.  Gini Mascorro made a calendar of all the phases and Brenda Ann Saball made a checklist to be sure nobody dropped any balls. Bob Erwin and his opposite from a parallel universe Erwin Bob had them do simple tasks.  Isabella Russell-Ides began writing the epic tale with Nick Gibbons who punched up the comedy and Jody Pham-Gurke agreed to do the illustrations.

Robert Bellamy, Chris Yacoub and Charlotte Crumm cleaned up any left over Tacos.

“What will they call this epic plan?” asked Mike Landry.
“The B*Day Boogaloo!” answered Sharla Cockrell quickly.
And Jenny nodded for it was written and it was good.

Happy Birthday (#HappyTSBday)

For the past several years I have been known for remembering, honoring and celebrating birthdays.  Lately this has been on social media, but those who have known Pre-Social Media such as Facebook, MySpace and Blogs know this is not a recent development.  

So how did it all start and why do I make such a big deal about your birthday?  

Originally from Chicago I was raised Catholic in a private Catholic School.  Family and holidays were a pretty big deal, and it was always someone specials Birthday and occasion for a family gathering.  My younger sister was usually a week or so before Thanksgiving so we would all get together and feast.  My Birthday is in July and the family would gather at our house and celebrate my Birthday with the 4th of July.  Watching the nation celebrate what I thought my Birthday made me think everyone else was missing out.  (This might be one of the roots of my healthy self-esteem)  Then what seemed like all-the-sudden, my father was relocated and our immediate family moved to Texas while almost simultaneously my mother became a Jehovah Witness.  I had to make all new friends in a new school in what was quite a culture shock.  (Especially for those that have known me all that time)  Also Jehovah Witnesses are not big on holidays but especially birthdays.  It would later dawn on me during my teenage years that my Birthday was actually over a week later in the month of July.  It is one thing to never know what it is like to have an epic birthday, and quite another to know that special feeling and have it taken away.  (Especially during those angsty formidable years).  

It became quite apparent to me that everyone wants to feel special on their Birthday, even if they typically don’t want the spotlight.  Even if they say Birthdays are not a big deal, we all want to be acknowledged and when you make someone feel special they remember it.  For those close to me I always remember your birthday, and I always do my best to out-do my previous Birthday wishes and salutations.  Whether you like gifts, big parties or just to know you are not on a John Hughes movie, your birthday is important and so are you.   

So I always did my best to make Birthdays special.  As a teacher in my classes, or as a performer in an interactive show or even running a Singing Telegrams company to make the wishes memorable. Another question I am frequently asked is where do you know all of these people?  Of course once you know over 365 people the probability is pretty high that more than one person is going to have the same Birthday, and I might perform to that many people in a single show.  

As a performer I never dreamed of winning an Oscar or Tony, but rather wanted to be a household name and would know I “arrived” when my name was highlighted on my Birthday in the newspaper amongst all the celebrities, horoscopes and famous people in history.  Since I share a Birthday with Harrison Ford, Sir Patrick Stewart and Julius Caesar that was a pretty tall order.  However I thought I would pay it forward.  

Happy Birthday wishes morphed into titles of alliteration which evolved into titles or royalty and hashtags (#HappyTSBday).  Many would write private messages thanking me for the posts and others would write me telling me how I broke their hearts not getting online.  As technology took the figurative pens, characters and keyboards out of our hands it became harder and harder to do the Birthday Post without losing a wifi connection, getting a phone call or Facebook just deciding I was taking too much time to post.  The average Birthday post consisted of over 30 tags so I had to think of something that would take your Birthday to the next level in 2016.  

What can be better than being featured amongst many great people on your Birthday?  My answer to level up is to immortalize you in a story.  The NEW BIRTHDAY STORY!

Happy Birthday!

Love #Shanespeare