Bang!

“I’ve been watching him for a while. Always keep your eye on the little guy.”

~ James Chartrand

Please read the original Men with Pens drive-by unless you’re okay with an otherwise totally random post. Enjoy!

Writer Dad knew they’d been there exactly four seconds before he opened the door.  Sean hugged his typewriter tightly to his chest, then slipped through the narrow opening.

His nostrils flinched.  A recently oiled gun… he’d put his money on a Glock.

He inched into the room and pulled the typewriter from his trench coat, then set it next to the old one without looking.  He was sorry to see it go, but it was heavy.  The new one was two-thirds the size, but custom built and twice as fast – he’d have all the speed he could ever use.

Damn! he thought, spying the thin slice of open window, his cover was blown. He’d slipped into town a few months back, but they’d found him already.  His fault for not keeping a lower profile.

He crossed the room, eyes dancing across the shadows, and lifted the sash.  Wind smarted his cheek, and Writer Dad was certain he saw the last of a wayward footprint swallowed by a rolling whirlwind of snow.

“Daisy,” he called, one eye still on the room as he aimed his breath through a slit of open doorway.  “Take the children to the basement and put on something by Pixar.  I need a minute.”

She knew she didn’t need to answer.

Halfway to the typewriter he noticed his twitter askew.  The intruders had combed the walls, but hadn’t found what they were looking for.   He kept it in his Thesis, page twenty-three.

Everybody used Thesis; it was the last place they’d think to look.

He sat, pulled a sheet from the shelf, inserted it into the manual and rolled it forward in a single fluid motion.  Only when his fingers were hovering above the home row did he notice the old iron giant.

BANG, the sheet peeped from the crown above the carriage.

James and Harry had left their card.

Writer Dad shook his head.  They were the best.  The only ones who had managed to track him across Paris, Singapore…. Kuala Lumpur.

A chill rolled down his body at the memory.

There wasn’t much time.

Writer Dad drew the shades and started moving things about the room, eliminating unnecessary text and darkening his navigation tabs.  He pulled the Blog Boost icon from the frame, slipped it inside another, then nodded.  A perfect blend.   He paced the room, arms full, and placed the RSS icon in line with the doorway – it would be the first thing they saw the next time they opened the door – then hung the bottle of ink immediately beneath.

That should do it, he inspected the room a final time.  He had to get back to the family.  Another minute and the children would start asking questions.  There was more to fix, but it would have to wait.

He walked to the window and peered through the snow smeared pane.  He’d have to finish the job, he spied the neat row of four hovering eyes glowing in the dark.  They were watching.

Writer Dad

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About Sean Platt

Sean Platt is author of Syllable Soup and Penny to a Million, plus co-founder of Children Write the Future. Follow him on Twitter (and make your life better with the right words!).

Comments

  1. Harry didn’t usually like to linger too long at the scene of the crime, but this time was different. This guy had potential. He had spirit. He had a gift. Harry could admire that, he understood the value of potential.

    Hunkered down in the snow behind a row of hedges, he watched with James.

    “Look at that,” the words came out in a puff of gray mist, “He took it to heart. Good on you, Sean.”

    Harrison McLeods last blog post..Drive-by-Shooting Sundays: Writer Dad

  2. Harry didn’t usually like to linger too long at the scene of the crime, but this time was different. This guy had potential. He had spirit. He had a gift. Harry could admire that, he understood the value of potential.

    Hunkered down in the snow behind a row of hedges, he watched with James.

    “Look at that,” the words came out in a puff of gray mist, “He took it to heart. Good on you, Sean.”

    Harrison McLeods last blog post..Drive-by-Shooting Sundays: Writer Dad

  3. Blogger Dad says:

    I like this. I wonder how many other people have posted a response to a Drive-By Shooting Sunday.

    Those were good suggestions they made, and ditto Harrison’s comment, good on you, Sean.

  4. Blogger Dad says:

    I like this. I wonder how many other people have posted a response to a Drive-By Shooting Sunday.

    Those were good suggestions they made, and ditto Harrison’s comment, good on you, Sean.

  5. Lance says:

    Very cool Sean – a response to the ‘shooting’!

    And, the changes, while really, mostly subtle, do add the the look here – I especially like the new look of the ‘give your blog a boost’ icon. So, these guys that do the ‘drive by’ – they DO seem to know what they’re doing!!

    Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day

  6. Lance says:

    Very cool Sean – a response to the ‘shooting’!

    And, the changes, while really, mostly subtle, do add the the look here – I especially like the new look of the ‘give your blog a boost’ icon. So, these guys that do the ‘drive by’ – they DO seem to know what they’re doing!!

    Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day

  7. vodkamom says:

    loved it.

  8. vodkamom says:

    loved it.

  9. James lifted his hands to his mouth and blew onto them to warm them up. “Warm fuzzies, Harry?” Chartrand’s mind worked a little differently. This guy was fast. Sneaky. And smart. Definitely not one he was going to let get away. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here. My hands are cold.”

    James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..Losing Your Sense of Self Because of Your Business

  10. James lifted his hands to his mouth and blew onto them to warm them up. “Warm fuzzies, Harry?” Chartrand’s mind worked a little differently. This guy was fast. Sneaky. And smart. Definitely not one he was going to let get away. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here. My hands are cold.”

    James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..Losing Your Sense of Self Because of Your Business

  11. Haha!

    I think if James and Harry came by my place, they’d end up tied up and I’d be pulling some freaky-Pulp Fiction-style stuff.

    “Zed’s dead, baby, Zed’s dead.”

  12. Haha!

    I think if James and Harry came by my place, they’d end up tied up and I’d be pulling some freaky-Pulp Fiction-style stuff.

    “Zed’s dead, baby, Zed’s dead.”

  13. Eric Hamm says:

    I loved the way this worked out, Sean. Very unique to respond to the drive by, and to have the shooters drop by to ‘continue the story’ was perfect. Great job, Sean! Eric.

    Eric Hamms last blog post..Enduring The Road To Success: Staying One Step Ahead Of The Competition

  14. Eric Hamm says:

    I loved the way this worked out, Sean. Very unique to respond to the drive by, and to have the shooters drop by to ‘continue the story’ was perfect. Great job, Sean! Eric.

    Eric Hamms last blog post..Enduring The Road To Success: Staying One Step Ahead Of The Competition

  15. Loved it. :)

    And I’ll join Lance: love the subtle changes you made to the blog.

    Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Ageism Is The Last Acceptable Form Of Discrimination

  16. Loved it. :)

    And I’ll join Lance: love the subtle changes you made to the blog.

    Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Ageism Is The Last Acceptable Form Of Discrimination

  17. Kyddryn says:

    Whether it was meant to or not, this tickled my sense of whimsy. Thanks – my whimsy needed a tickle.

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K

    Kyddryns last blog post..Swap This!

  18. Kyddryn says:

    Whether it was meant to or not, this tickled my sense of whimsy. Thanks – my whimsy needed a tickle.

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K

    Kyddryns last blog post..Swap This!

  19. Writer Dad says:

    Harry & James:

    Their glowing eyes were swallowed by ink. Writer Dad felt an outside chill; an intruder to his warm den. The Men were the best, probably none better. They had found him in no time… that said enough. Then they lingered in the frost when they easily could have fled.

    In a way, he thought, running his hands through his ragtop of hair and sinking into the old easy, they were good for the game. They made everyone else pay attention. They made everyone else step up. He had heard they even ran with Clark sometimes.

    Truth was, Writer Dad mused, all these slingers were after the same thing.

    He gave his new typewriter a neat splash of white, then rose from his chair and went downstairs to be with his family.

    Dave: I’ve no idea, but it’s a great question.

    Lance: The Boost improvement was Eric, and I agree, it looks terrific.

    VodkaMom: Thanks.

    Matthew Dryden: I’ve no doubt.

    Eric: Thanks, Eric. It was a fun post to write, even though it probably invited a lot of huhs?

    Kddryn: It was. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

    Vered: I’m glad you liked it. I thought it was a lot of fun too.

  20. Writer Dad says:

    Harry & James:

    Their glowing eyes were swallowed by ink. Writer Dad felt an outside chill; an intruder to his warm den. The Men were the best, probably none better. They had found him in no time… that said enough. Then they lingered in the frost when they easily could have fled.

    In a way, he thought, running his hands through his ragtop of hair and sinking into the old easy, they were good for the game. They made everyone else pay attention. They made everyone else step up. He had heard they even ran with Clark sometimes.

    Truth was, Writer Dad mused, all these slingers were after the same thing.

    He gave his new typewriter a neat splash of white, then rose from his chair and went downstairs to be with his family.

    Dave: I’ve no idea, but it’s a great question.

    Lance: The Boost improvement was Eric, and I agree, it looks terrific.

    VodkaMom: Thanks.

    Matthew Dryden: I’ve no doubt.

    Eric: Thanks, Eric. It was a fun post to write, even though it probably invited a lot of huhs?

    Kddryn: It was. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

    Vered: I’m glad you liked it. I thought it was a lot of fun too.

  21. Writer Dad says:

    Harry & James:

    Their glowing eyes were swallowed by ink. Writer Dad felt an outside chill; an intruder to his warm den. The Men were the best, probably none better. They had found him in no time… that said enough. Then they lingered in the frost when they easily could have fled.

    In a way, he thought, running his hands through his ragtop of hair and sinking into the old easy, they were good for the game. They made everyone else pay attention. They made everyone else step up. He had heard they even ran with Clark sometimes.

    Truth was, Writer Dad mused, all these slingers were after the same thing.

    He gave his new typewriter a neat splash of white, then rose from his chair and went downstairs to be with his family.

    Dave: I’ve no idea, but it’s a great question.

    Lance: The Boost improvement was Eric, and I agree, it looks terrific.

    VodkaMom: Thanks.

    Matthew Dryden: I’ve no doubt.

    Eric: Thanks, Eric. It was a fun post to write, even though it probably invited a lot of huhs?

    Kddryn: It was. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

    Vered: I’m glad you liked it. I thought it was a lot of fun too.

  22. Heh, we may all be after one thing… but there’s only one set of slingers around here. Get yer own brandin’, boy! ;)

    James Chartrand – - Men with Penss last blog post..Losing Your Sense of Self Because of Your Business

  23. Heh, we may all be after one thing… but there’s only one set of slingers around here. Get yer own brandin’, boy! ;)

    James Chartrand – - Men with Penss last blog post..Losing Your Sense of Self Because of Your Business

  24. Marelisa says:

    Hi Sean: You did well on the drive-by over all; I was massacred :-) And clever of you to write a response. Your blog looks even better now.

    Marelisas last blog post..Productivity and Foie Gras

  25. Marelisa says:

    Hi Sean: You did well on the drive-by over all; I was massacred :-) And clever of you to write a response. Your blog looks even better now.

    Marelisas last blog post..Productivity and Foie Gras

  26. steph says:

    Looking better than ever, Sean. You received good suggestions, and it really says something about you that you’re acting on them as soon as you can.

    stephs last blog post..Short

  27. steph says:

    Looking better than ever, Sean. You received good suggestions, and it really says something about you that you’re acting on them as soon as you can.

    stephs last blog post..Short

  28. steph says:

    PS. Blogger Café: I like! Much better than Bloggers I Heart (the “I heart” thing is so cliché, anyway!)

    stephs last blog post..Short

  29. steph says:

    PS. Blogger Café: I like! Much better than Bloggers I Heart (the “I heart” thing is so cliché, anyway!)

    stephs last blog post..Short

  30. Sean -

    Some great improvements! And this was an awesome drive-by. I think it helps that you have such a flexible, feature rich and yet simple theme.

    And just my personal preference, but I’m not real fond of the sidebars on each side. I much prefer them/it on one side only. It works ok here, though.

    I haven’t been by in a while and was thrilled to see your new header image. Very cool. It gives just the right impression – says a lot with just a little.

    Well done!

    ~ Annie

    Annie Andersons last blog post..Winter wonderland

  31. Sean -

    Some great improvements! And this was an awesome drive-by. I think it helps that you have such a flexible, feature rich and yet simple theme.

    And just my personal preference, but I’m not real fond of the sidebars on each side. I much prefer them/it on one side only. It works ok here, though.

    I haven’t been by in a while and was thrilled to see your new header image. Very cool. It gives just the right impression – says a lot with just a little.

    Well done!

    ~ Annie

    Annie Andersons last blog post..Winter wonderland

  32. Writer Dad says:

    James: Writer Dad hung his hat on the hook and shook his head. Maybe next time, he thought. : > )

    Marelisa: Thanks. Shining it has been fun. I only wish there was more time in the day.

    Steph: You’re right, it’s much better, but credit does go to the pen men. I would have kept it Bloggers I Heart, which isn’t near as good.

    Annie: Thanks, Annie. The header was done by David Wright from Blogger Dad. He is as awesome as they get.

  33. Writer Dad says:

    James: Writer Dad hung his hat on the hook and shook his head. Maybe next time, he thought. : > )

    Marelisa: Thanks. Shining it has been fun. I only wish there was more time in the day.

    Steph: You’re right, it’s much better, but credit does go to the pen men. I would have kept it Bloggers I Heart, which isn’t near as good.

    Annie: Thanks, Annie. The header was done by David Wright from Blogger Dad. He is as awesome as they get.

  34. Dot says:

    Congratulations on not getting shot. Even though your blog had a great look in the first place, the changes the Pen Men suggested have only made it better. Those guys are good. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my request in early enough to get a free drive-by, but I’ll be getting one nonetheless. Can’t wait!

    Dots last blog post..How to Get Published, Part 2

  35. Dot says:

    Congratulations on not getting shot. Even though your blog had a great look in the first place, the changes the Pen Men suggested have only made it better. Those guys are good. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my request in early enough to get a free drive-by, but I’ll be getting one nonetheless. Can’t wait!

    Dots last blog post..How to Get Published, Part 2

Trackbacks

  1. [...] was already distracted by the drive-by. The Pixar movie would drag on for the next hour – more than enough time for what I needed to do. [...]

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