Woo hoo! It’s Wednesday, so that means I can share the latest installment of my WIP. If you’re writing along, come share with us and add it here.
Today is 1/15/14, so here are 14 lines from the 15th scene. I promise, Phin is only an ass to adults. I honestly couldn’t write a character who is nasty to small children, probably because I just don’t understand that level of heartlessness. (I get not liking kids; I just don’t know why people have to be horrible to them.)
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Without stepping any closer, Phin crouched down to be closer to the boy’s eye level. “Do you remember me? I was in your class today.” The boy nodded, and Phin continued, “What’s your name?”
“Jake,” he whispered.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jake. Is it okay if I help you with the table?”
The boy shrugged, and Phin stood up. He took a stack of plates from the counter and carried them to the table. He looked back over his shoulder at Jake, who stood next to Dani and tugged on her arm. She leaned down toward him.
“Mama, that’s the man from school today,” he said. “He played the rubber chicken game with us.”
“Rubber chicken game?” Dani asked, peering over Jake’s head at Phin.
Phin chuckled. “Cross between tag, dodge ball, and capture the flag, only with rubber chickens.” He shook his head. There was no escape from endless activities involving farm fowl.
The boy giggled. “I got him twice,” he said. His eyes widened, and he clapped a hand over his mouth. He looked at Phin, who nodded and winked. Jake relaxed.
“Did you?” Dani asked. She glanced up at Phin again. “Hm.” She smiled.
Behind him, Phin heard someone laugh softly. He turned around and found himself face to face with Alex. “Yeah, it’s hilarious,” Phin said, making a face.
“It is,” Alex agreed. “I have to admit, I’m impressed you participated.”
“When in Rome,” Phin replied. “Just getting a sense of what it’s like from the kids’ perspective.” He called to Dani, “Anything else I can do to help?”
Without preamble, she handed him a basket of dinner rolls. While everyone was busy preparing the table, the doorbell rang. This time, Alex answered. Phin glanced over to see Alex showing Gia and Eunice in. He raised his eyebrows. Dinner had turned into quite a gathering.
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The game I referenced is real. My son has played it at school, but I can’t remember what it’s actually called–he just refers to it as rubber chicken tag.
I think you capture Jake really well and I’m glad Phin’s not nasty to kids because Jake seems like a lovely little boy!
Rubber chicken tag… sounds interesting…
Great excerpt. Had me wondering what genre it is. Just wondering… 🙂
General fiction, but with a couple of romantic sub-plots. 🙂
Now I’ve only read the WIPpets where Phin is being perfectly lovely. Am looking forward to getting a look at his not so nice side too!
I want to know how to play the rubber chicken tag game. Anything with rubber chickens has to be fun.
Great excerpt. I really do like Phin, even if he seems to get a bit snarky to the adults. I can deal with that, I do the same. 😀
Rubber chicken tag could be the official WIPpet sport. Or better yet you could teach the flying monkey’s to play – could really add another dimension to your interviews.
Hmm…the flying monkeys with access to rubber chickens…this has potential. Potential for what I’m not quite sure.
Echo those curious about the rubber chicken game. 🙂
Nice excerpt, with various characters coming across really well.
haha, I want to play the rubber chicken game! 🙂
Will it ruin it if I try to explain the chicken game? It really is sort of like a weird version of dodgeball/capture the flag. From what my son said, they use hula hoops to build a “coop.” They hide something inside–maybe it’s supposed to be the egg?–like a Nerf ball. I think they’re supposed to try to knock down the other team’s “coop” with the rubber chickens to steal the “egg,” and I think they can tag each other if they cross the territory line. It’s a variation on castle ball: http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=819#.UtdB9LRvU0M
Now there’s a game I need to try! I’ve never liked rubber chickens. Truth told, they kinda disgust me. My kids, on the other hand, would totally go for that.
Phin seems like a nice guy to me. 🙂
I know you’ve shown a few places where Phin doesn’t play well with others, but in general, I get the sense that his heart is really in the right place. He’s trying in a way that a lot of bureaucrats wouldn’t.
And rubber chickens? *shudders* umm.. no thank you.