[Stylist] Intro and my first entry

Sat Sep 28 00:00:36 UTC 2019

Vejas!  I am surprised that my telling of my last confrontation with the gunman came across as * 
lighthearted.  To me, the way that I wrote it was anything but that!!!

          Jewel

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Vejas Vasiliauskas via Stylist" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2019 7:10 PM
To: "Writers' Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Vejas Vasiliauskas" <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] Intro and my first entry

>
> Hi Jewel,
> I'm so glad that this didn't actually happen to you!
> That is sort of right about English being my second language. My name means "wind" in Lithuanian. 
> Three of my grandparents came from Lithuania to escape the Soviet Union. My parents were both born 
> in the Midwest United States and learned Lithuanian from home as well as going to Lithuanian 
> school on Saturdays. My parents first only used Lithuanian when talking to me, but decided when I 
> was about 2 to have me speak in both languages so that I could interact with therapists and other 
> instructors. My parents and I all love to read.
> Funny you should ask about the cap and gown. Yes, I will get to wear them. I wore a cap and gown 
> yesterday, as a matter of fact, for my senior photos.
> I'm not sure what the policy on Stylist regarding swearing anymore. I'm 22 and joined the list 
> when I was 15. I remember at the time that people would add in the subject that there was strong 
> language (but did that really stop me from reading?) I think lately people have been more loose 
> about that. I could also put down your/the main character's seemingly light-hearted reaction to 
> shock at seeing the killer so soon.
New Zealand sounds great. Email addresses are hidden here, which is why I didn't see that.
Vejas
>
>
>
>
> On 26 Sep 2019, at 23:25, Jewel via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Thanks for your reply Vejas!  From your name, I would hazard a guess that English is not your 
> native
> language, so to be a senior major in it is a real feather in your cap/mortarboard!    Do the grads
> in your college wear caps and gowns?
> the story was, I am thankful to say, entirely fictitious.
> I could have called Sampson's killer a lot of things, but I did not want to be shown the Stylists'
> door before I had even got across the threshold, so "a filthy apology for a human being!"  I
> reckoned was pretty telling.
> You picked my spelling as being for English english, but the NZ in my address would identify me as
> being a New Zealander, or if not of that specific ethnicity, at least, resident in God's Own!
> However, I am proud  to say that I am a bred and born Kiwi:  that is:   New Zealander with my
> ancestors having originated in Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland and Normandy via the Channel Islands.
>
>         Jewel --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Vejas Vasiliauskas via Stylist" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 27, 2019 4:29 PM
> To: "Writers' Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Vejas Vasiliauskas" <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Stylist] Intro and my first entry
>
>
> Hi Jewel,
> It's very nice to meet you. My name is Vejas and I am a college senior English major.
> If you don't mind me asking, are you from England? I love reading modern British books, and I just
> guessed it because of your spelling.
> I really liked your story... I hope this didn't actually happen to You, though. Your use of
> figurative language is great.
> My only critique of it, and this is probably just my own personal opinion, but when you tell the
> shooter that he is a  "filthy apology of a human being", I feel that this is too light. It's
> something I would imagine saying to a close friend or significant other in a teasing way.
> Vejas
>
>
>
> On 26 Sep 2019, at 19:16, Jewel via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> I cannot sit down and work out a story!  It is up to my subconscious brain to do that, and,
> occasionally, that is what it does, not giving the smallest clue of what it is doing in its idle
> moments.
>
> When the story is 98% complete, it will then telegraph the product of its deliberations to my
> conscious brain which will then add the final 2% in the form of polishing and addition of the
> finer
> points.
> Having explained my writing schedule, or haphazard nature of the same, following is my
> subconscious
> brain's last effort!  Who knows when it will put itself out again?  maybe next week, or, more
> likely, going on previous experience, NEVER!!!
> ----------------------------------
>
>            Sampson
>
>
> My guidedog  jumped forward in his harness and there came from him a sound that I had never
> expected
> to hear from such a good-tempered animal:  a threatening and "I mean business!!" growl.
> His growl was answered by the bark of a gun.
> Sampson was hurled backwards, taking me with him,  and we both fell to the ground.
> I knew, instantly, that my beloved dog was dead.
> I tried to jump to my feet, but before I could achieve that, a voice came out of the darkness:
> a
> pleasant, and, I thought, rather cultured one:
> "Miss Blanch!  if you are wise, and believe me when I say that it would be in your best interests
> to
> be so,  follow the example set by the, recently, departed, and stay, very ...  very ...  still!"
> What option did I have?  Sampson was dead, so I did as bid and stayed very ... very ... still!!!
> There was a soft chuckle, the click of a car door, the rumble of a well-maintained engine, and the
> slayer of innocent  dogs drove away.
> -----------------
> After a sleepless night, I buried Sampson in the front garden, under, what had been his favourite
> shade tree.
> I sat beside his grave, thinking back over the many happy years  we had worked together,
> travelling
> the world, experiencing all the trials and tribulations plus many adventures that my job as an
> international journalist brought with it, and now,  picturing him running free, without any
> responsibilities, in the meadow on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.  Was he chasing
> butterflies?  that had been his favourite game when he was on this side of the bridge, and,
> occasionally, he, even, caught one, but I am convinced that for him to have been successful, the
> insect must have been very old and on the point of death, so I doubt that his rare successes had
> any
> lasting impact on the continued survival of the genus!
> In the midst of my reverie,  from the direction of the gate,  came a voice that I knew well and
> would never forget:
> "Good morning Miss Blanch!"  and what a  lovely one it is for gardening!  I don't see that dog of
> yours, but I am sure that he is not far away!"
> "You filthy apology for a human being!  I cried:  "what harm did my Sampson ever do you?"
> "tut tut!:  Miss Blanch!    SUCH  LANGUAGE!  what harm had he ever done me?I confess that,
> personally, he had done none!  You and your like may claim dogs to be your best friends, but,
> believe me, not everyone is so deluded and I, being one of them, have taken it upon myself to rid
> the community of the vile creatures whenever the opportunity presents itself.
> If you are thinking that an examination of the bullet that brought about the animal's sudden
> passing
> might lead to my identity, let me disabuse you;  I borrowed, for a short time, the gun from a
> stranger, without his knowledge, and now,  that firearm is back in his gunrack without him
> realising
> that it was ever missing!   secondly, you may be thinking that you can identify me from my voice:
> you will never hear it again!  and with that, he walked away.
> ------------------
> An original story created and written by Jewel Blanch
>
>
>
>
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