Jeannie Barber

SCARS OF LIFE

My award-winning story written online through Chris Baty's website, NaNowRiMo, is still in the editing phase.

Here's an excerpt to get a small taste of my style.

PROLOGUE

She grabbed her purse off the dining room table and toppled over a pink and white sippy cup full of milk. Her reflexes sluggish, she stretched to rescue the plastic cup. It cracked against the hardwood floor and white liquid splattered like a pair of broken pearls.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it,” she slurred, a pungent odor of whiskey on her breath.

She yanked at a denim work shirt from a nearyby chair. The substitute for a paper towel only smeared the mess.

"I don’t need this right now!"

A stray raven, curl fell across her face. Tears rolled. Her cheek, crimson from the slap, stung.

Geez, I hope my face doesn't bruise.

She tossed the damp shirt aside and scooped up the little girl from the playpen. A ragged, black and white panda fell from the child's chubby hand.

“Bawh, bawh.”
“Oh baby, you don’t need the bear.”

A tiny bottom lip protruded as wails for the bear echoed through the house.

She bent down.“Okay, okay honey.”

The refrigerator door swung open, streaks of light danced on the dark kitchen wall. A baby bottle in one hand and car keys in the other, she repositioned the toddler on her hip.

“We have to go. I hope to God I can get out of here before…”
“Before what?” a deep male voice blared.

Fright ravaged her body. Panicked, she ran out the back door. Bam, bam! The wooden frame banged shut .

“Stop!” he roared.

Goosebumps marched over her skin. She
flung the car door open and scooted the little girl inside, no time to strap her into the car seat. In one quick move, she jammed the key into the ignition and hit the lock button, the doors clicked shut. A mountain of a man appeared, his glare hostile. Vile curses fell from his lips like leaves in the fall. His fist crushed hard on the hood of the car.

“Open the damn door, now!”

Terrified, she jerked the car into gear and drove off into a dark, onyx night. Thunder rumbled in the starless sky and huge drops of rain pelleted his body. He threw his head back and heinous laughter rolled off his lips.

LYRICS & POETRY

WHO IS SHE?

HIS HAND BRUSHED MINE

DOUBLE EXPOSURE

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DON'T BLINK

65,000 Words

In the editing stage.

Co-Authored with Patty Wiseman. Please take the time to view her website, www.pattywiseman.com.

Target Date 12-2008