Tales From Within A New York Minute #1

“I have to have it now, not in five minutes, not in two. Now.” 

‘Now’ seems to have become the new ‘in a minute’ or at least, that is what Google is betting on with their new Google Wave open source program that will allow you to play games, place photos, maps, share real time documents and instant message right in the comfort of your very own email message. With a tap of a key you will be able to instantly place a conversation that you are having right into your very own blog, as you type, as in right now. As if, someone were out there sitting patiently staring at your blog waiting for an update.

I thought that is what Twitter was for: Short nothings in real time. 

“I’m heading out the door; need to pick up the kids”

“I just picked up the kids”

God, don’t get me started on and about Twitter.  I don’t twit.

However, I do, do short stories, more on that in a bit.

If you made it this far and you have an hour, twenty minutes and twelve seconds you can preview the Google Wave here.

One hour, twenty minutes, twelve second on how to do sometime right now. How’s that for irony?

Are we really that far gone that email is not quick enough for us to get by in a 24 hour day? Instant messaging, don’t we have something like that already; can anyone say Yahoo Instant Message, Microsoft Messenger?

As my imaginary father used to tell me in times of indecisiveness, “If you can’t beat’em, then join’em” and I think he may have been right. So with the attention span of the world going south, I think I will jump on the - can you spare a minute program – and get my due with the one minute short story. Yes, you read that right: A one minute story.

As you know, as good story has a beginning, middle, an ending, and somewhere within that algorithm there should be a dilemma, a love interest, perhaps a bad guy or some profound message. Nowhere in the story writing academy does it state that a story need weigh in about a pound or take up to a week to read.

So with that said my friends, pencil me in for a minute of your much valued time because there will be a new feature on this blog; complete stories in 150 words or less.

How cool is that?

So without much more ado kids, I present the first installment of:

Tales From Within a New York Minute.   

Today’s story boys and girls centers around a love gone wrong as two lives merge into a lane of misery and finality.

Just In Time For Murder.
                                        By Alvin Valles

 Carla knew that tonight, tomorrow night and for all the nights that were to follow: nothing would ever change. Like clockwork, Justin would stumble in around 4am, reeking of low-rent women, gin and stale cigarette smoke. Finding her awake, the name calling and humiliation would fall from the top of the hour and roll into dawn, and more times than not; she would come to terms with a backhand or two.

Life again would be in session.

As Carla stood waiting in the dark, fingers clinching and unfurling around the handle of his drop point hunting knife, she heard him lock the front door behind himself, heard the sound of keys sprinkle across the kitchen counter, a grunt, a sigh. 

Under control and in check, back pressed against the cold wall Carla waited as Justin made his way down the hallway and into the bedroom.

Justin heard nothing.

Comments

[Carol]

Great story in a minute, nice condensing.
I can't keep up with all the new fast things, don't even try. I still haven't figured out why twitter is useful. I don't follow any.
But you stories are always great so I will keep up with them.

[Alvin]

Thanks Carol, you are always so kind. Yeah, I have no idea what the rage about Twitter is. Even the news anchor twitter between stories to the viewers. I mean, who cares. Even my reading habits are closing in on anthologies and short stories but the likes of Ammie Bender, Steven Millhauser and the list could go on. But, I can find much storied under a minute so... I'll just have to write them.

Thanks again for stopping in.
=a=

[Stephanie]

Now that's the kind of short story I can sink my teeth into! Well done, Alvin!

[Sasha]

I'm not sure why I didn't leave a comment earlier when I first read this. I think I was kind of like this O_O and wasn't sure what to say. We need to get together soon, Alvin. If you have a night off this weekend, let me know.

[Alvin]

Stephanie: Thanks Stephanie, that means a lot coming from someone that is quite the wordsmith.

Sasha: Of course. I was wondering when you would come around. ;-)