The Jane Storegoer announcement and latest installment below, but first a big thanks to everyone who has made this month so amazingly fun! And then huge apologies for being such a bad blogger this weekend, our sketch comedy show opens Saturday night, and I am the prop person. And I am not quite finished with all the props. Yikes.
So I spent my weekend mostly on the floor with curled bits of paper around me, hacking at things with scissors. All in all, a pretty good weekend.
But not a lot of visiting, or even saying hello. So hello! I’ll be commenting up a storm (or a minor cloudburst) as soon as I’ve posted.
I pretty much did my reflections post for W, but, as a whole, I’ve found this A-to-Z Challenge particularly rewarding. Something clicked for me this year, and rather than feeling the pressure of posting, I enjoyed the whirlwind ride of new, fun places and people to see.
So congrats to all of us for making it through! It was a ridiculously fast, crazy month!
And now on to Jane Storegoer.
Jane Storegoer lives on! Possibly, if she makes out of her current jam. Or box, as the case may be. Every Monday, there will be a new episode in Jane’s adventure. And here’s the fun bit: I’ll be sending out the new stories on Fridays in my newsletter, so they will come to you if you sign up!
Part 3 of The Continuing Story of Jane Storegoer and the Cone of Evil.
How deep is this box? thought Jane, bracing herself for the impact. And then there it was, but before she could prepare for certain smashing, the damp cardboard stretched downward as effortlessly as a trapeze net. She sprang up again, back toward the hole in the box, now filled with the ice cream cone’s face.
“Mwaahhh haaaa haaa,” the ice cream cone said, little bits of ice cream showering down, along with a sprinkle or two.
Jane hit her rebounding peak and went down again, this time more relaxed. She’d always loved a good trampoline.
“I don’t think you’re using that laugh right,” she said, striking a pose as she bounced again. She wondered if she could get a little higher, maybe, if she jumped. All the activity was warming her up, at least.
She connected with the cardboard, this time bending as far as she could, and shot up, fast. The ice cream cone’s peanut eyes widened as she came at it, and it tilted back on its waffle apex just as her head and right shoulder made it through the ragged opening in the box top.
“You better move, Ice Cream Cone!” said Jane, compacting herself for her next recoil. That Trampolinercize was really paying off.
“My name is Barry!” it said, hopping back on its cone tip as this time, she nearly got her elbows through.
“Berry?” she said, her hair the last thing to go through the hole on the way back down.
“No, Barry. BA-rry.”
“Still hearing Berry.” She smiled as she descended. She knew what it said, but she couldn’t resist that growing annoyance. This time should get her back up and out.
Thunk.
“Holy ouch,” she yelled, when she managed to get her breath back. She lay sprawled on the suddenly ungiving bottom of the box, her cheek resting in a puddle of…something. It smelled vinegary and a little spicy. Tall, lumpy white creatures surrounded her, each carrying a long, green weapon resting where their shoulders would be.
“We are the Tofurati,” said one of the creatures. “Explain yourself.”
***
Want to know what happens to Jane Storegoer before everyone else? Sign up for my spamless newsletter, and get new episodes in your inbox on Fridays!
In or near Chicago? Check out our sketch comedy revue, “Me Inside Me Presents: Neurotrash.” Saturdays at 10 pm, May 7, 14, 21 & 28. Click here for tickets.
Check out my full-length novels, Her Cousin Much Removed, The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management
And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!
A Bit to Read 
Leave a reply to SD Gates Cancel reply