Chemistry Lab

~AM

Creative Writing

In case you wanted to know what crazy stuff I'm writing for my creative writing class...here's a sample:

Ruby turned on the stove and pulled her long blonde hair back into a ponytail. She never liked cooking with her hair down. No matter how irrational it was, she had a fear of her hair catching on fire. Carefully rolling up the sleeves on her sweater, so those didn’t catch on fire as well, she peered into the living room where Zak was quietly playing with his plastic animals and dump truck. His little 4 year old face was stern as he softly talked to his animals and carefully placed them into the dump truck in a neat row. Ruby smiled at his puzzling mind and went back into the kitchen. She grabbed a box of colored wagon wheels pasta off the shelf and waited for the water to boil. 

Small feet, almost like the soft padded paws of a dog, plodded into the kitchen. 

“Mommy, there’s a car coming down the driveway! Is it Uncle Ben?” He grabbed her belt and looked at her with electrified eyes

Ruby frowned “No…I don’t think so….” She walked around to the living room window. Driving down the long driveway was a black Mercedes. “Shit.” She quickly spun around so as not to be visible from the outside. She edged away and quickly made her way back to the kitchen. In one fluid movement she shut off the stove and crouched down in the corner of the kitchen behind the island and pulled Zak close.

“Mommy who-“

“Shh! You need to be quiet now ok?” she whispered.

Zak smiled and giggled.“Is it Uncle Ben? Are we playing hide and go seek?” He bounced up and down on her lap.

“Shh! Mommy needs you to be quiet right-“ A sudden sharp knock at the door cut her off. Ruby brought Zak close to her as the knocking grew louder and more impatient. Zak whimpered into her shoulder. 

“It’s ok.” She ran her fingers through the loose curls he got from his father. 

The knocking stopped and all that could be heard was the muffled voices of two men and a large envelope being shoved through the bottom of the door. It slid across the hardwood floor menacingly. Ruby strained to hear what the men were saying.

“I know she is. I made sure.” One man flustered. 

“Then keep a close eye on the house” commanded the other. 

Car doors slammed and the engine started up as the black Mercedes made its way out of the driveway. Ruby set Zak beside her. 

“I want you to sit here ok?” 

Zak brought his knees up to his chest. “ok”

Ruby crawled towards the front door on her hands and knees to where the envelope lay on the floor. She sat on the floor and opened up the envelope and found a letter attached to newspaper clippings and photos. Zak got on all fours and started to crawl towards her, growling softly.

 Ruby glanced through the letter and flipped through some of the clippings and photo. She started to stuff them back into the envelope when Zak rushed towards her crying “woof woof!” He growled and grabbed hold of one of the photos.

“Zak stop that! Don’t!” She tried to snatch it away but he already had it. 

“The wolf caught the Elk!” He cried as he held the photo up triumphantly. His eyes quickly scanned over his prize. His face squinted and he cocked his head sideways. “Is this a picture of you ?”

Ruby grabbed the photo and shoved it back into the envelope with the others. “Zak I need you to listen to me ok? We’re going to go on a trip. Can you go pick out some toys you want to bring?”

“Yay yay yay!” Zak ran into the living room and started stacking his animals into a plastic container in neat little rows. “We’re going on a trip!” Ruby's chest grew tight as he whispered excitedly into each of the animals fixed ears. “We’re going on a trip!”

Ruby threw the envelope on the kitchen table and pulled a small key from her pocket. She walked towards the basement door and unlocked it. Her hand shaking, she slowly opened the door.

So....yeah.

~AM

Piano for a Non-Music Major

Today I was feeling much contempt for my life. Since I don't have my dog here to be ridiculously happy at just the sight of me to give me the impression that I am indeed loved, I decided that playing the piano might help.

It's been about a month since I've played the piano, but I was confidant that I could just play whatever came to mind.I don't have any music here....but I usually don't. I play by memory. Special.

Now, I used to play the piano in the secluded recesses of the basement in the old science building, but that is currently under construction. Those practice rooms exist no more. I thought I would be okay practicing in the main music building. I know I'm not a music major and that I would be spotted as an outsider, but I figured since it was homecoming weekend not many people would be there.

So I went to the music building and found a practice room. It wasn't really busy. I happened to be right next door to someone who actually knows how to play the piano well. I wasn't too intimidated. I placed my hands on the keys and started to play Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C Sharp Minor by memory. I got a few measures in and I blanked. I fiddled around on the keys till I found the right chord and continued playing but I was immediately stopped again. Why couldn't I remember this song? I started playing another one. I drew another blank. Next song. I don't know all of that one. Next song. This one doesn't sound as impressive as the one the guy next door is playing.

I listed to the guy next door. He was playing a very technical and  fast piece without any detectable flaws. Here was I in the other room, plunking away on forgotten tunes. What authority di I have being here? Alas! I could play Toccata and Fugue in D Minor! Right? That will prove that I have a reason to come waltzing into the music building as a non music major and to casually play the piano. I started playing. I started noticing every single flaw I made, every measure I omitted, every stumble.

I heard people walking by. What would they think hearing a very familiar tune being played ...not so well? I stopped playing.

I started thinking about how I wasn't a music major. How I've had to teach myself the piano. How I took a couple years of piano lessons so I could learn how to read music. How I still couldn't read rhythms very well. How I needed to hear a piece first before even beginning to figure out how to play it. How I couldn't hum an A 440. How I couldn't play the piano decently.

My self-esteem plummeted at this point. I don't excel in anything musical compared to music majors. I was worried I was being judged by them.

I got up from the piano, pushed the bench in, and shut out the lights. As I opened the heavy door, I felt my face flush with embarrassment because if I could hear the guy in the other room, then he definitely heard my pitiful attempts at playing.

I'll never, ever play the piano in the music building ever again.

~AM