Operation

Justin arrived late to the party. He usually arrived late to things. He did it on purpose. He was hoping for a spot in the yearbook as the senior who was most likely to show up late to graduation. He could have gone for friendliest or class clown, but those awards seemed too obvious. He also supposed he could have gone for best legs, but he really didn't feel up to shaving them. Really not worth it.

He made his way through Staci's house and went down to the basement where all his friends would be talking and dancing and playing slightly inappropriate games. None of them could get into too much trouble since Staci's folks were watching reruns of The Cosby Show just upstairs.

Before Justin reached the bottom of the stairs, he stopped to take in the view of the room. He shouted a quick, but loud, "HEY!" His friends responded with shouts and waves and raised glasses. Staci made her way over to him and laced her arm through his. She had a thing for him and he knew it, he just wasn't sure how to let her know that she wasn't his type.

"So what've I missed?" he asked.

"Not much," said Staci, "but we're already out of chips."

"I should go then. Those chips were really the only reason I came."

Staci let out a girlish giggle and slapped Justin on the arm. "I'm sure I can find another reason for you to stay!"

"Is Tim playing Operation?" Justin asked, noticing Tim alone on the couch.

"Yeah, I had some board games out," said Staci, "I'm really not sure why he's decided to play that one by himself. For that matter, I'm not too sure why he even came here tonight. Tim's always keeping to himself."

Justin looked back over at Tim. He was hunched over the classic game, his brow was furrowed in deep concentration. "He's a good kid, just a little introverted, that's all. Come on."

Justin and Staci walked over to Tim's corner. Justin sat in a chair across from Tim and Cavity Sam, while Staci stood with her arms crossed. "Hey Tim. Whatcha doin?" Justin asked.

"I'm training," Tim said, never looking up from the game.

Justin noticed that the look on Staci's face was not a happy one. He silently nodded at her, trying to convince her to sit next to Tim. She rolled her eyes. "What are you training for?" Staci asked as she sat next to Tim on the couch.

"Ah! You made me drop the Adam's Apple!" Tim yelled as Sam buzzed at his error.

Staci immediately stood back up. "Sorry! Geez, it's just a game!" she shouted and stormed into the crowd of her friends.

Justin watched as she walked away and he couldn't help but laugh a little. He looked back at Tim, who was still huffing in frustration. "No, really, what are you training for?"

"I'm gonna be a surgeon someday."

"And you think that playing Operation at age 16 will help to prepare you for that?" Justin asked. It may have sounded like he was being sarcastic, but he genuinely wanted to understand Tim's thought process.

Tim set down the game's tweezers and looked up at Justin. "This game helps to improve dexterity."

"Dude, you're at a party and you're sitting in a corner playing Operation by yourself. That's something you could do at home."

Tim sat back on the couch and crossed his arms. He looked at his classmates around the basement with a look on his face that could almost be described as disgust. "These people don't like me," he said. He looked back at Justin, "I'm not even sure you like me."

"I don't dislike you," said Justin. "But I don't exactly know you, either. And I'd be willing to bet, not many people in this room do know you. You have to admit, you do kind of close yourself off from others."

"No I don't--"

"Says the kid playing a board game alone in a room full of his peers."

"Point taken," Tim said.

"Look, it's obvious you don't want to be alone," Justin said as he stood. "If you wanted that, you'd have stayed at home."

"The truth? I came here tonight because I have a crush on Staci," Tim said. "Don't tell her," he added quickly.

Justin couldn't help but laugh again. "You know, yelling at her for dropping an apple-shaped piece of plastic is probably not the way to win her affections."

As if suddenly realizing what he had done, Tim leaned forward and picked the tweezers back up.

"Oh no," Justin said, "Don't pick those things back up. Operation: Wingman is about to commence. You and I are going to work together to get Staci's attention. In a good way, this time."

Tim looked up, his expression unchanged. "I mean it. Stand up," Justin ordered, "And try smiling a little. It's a party."

With that, they moved toward the crowd and approached Staci and a group of her friends.

See how others interpreted this week's writing prompt at Sunday Scribblings.

AFI 72 - The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

Directed by Frank Darabont

Netflix sleeve: Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden (Bob Gunton). During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates--including an older prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman)--for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.

I first saw this movie back in college, roughly 6 years after it was originally released. And it was around that time that I read Different Seasons, Stephen King's collection of four novellas that included the story on which this movie was based. Since then, it's become one of my favorite movies. It's one of those that I'll stop and watch if I happen to catch it while channel surfing. If you haven't seen it and have an extra two and a half hours to spare, do yourself a favor and watch.

Question of the Week: Routine

Do you establish routines in your life? For example, do you usually sleep in the same place in your bed? eat meals at the same time? regularly return to the same vacation spot?

First of all... What's a vacation? This word is not familiar to me. Sorry... it's just been a really long time since I went on a real vacation. Hard for me to return to the same vacation spot when it's been so long since I took one. Anyway, I think in some ways I follow routines. It's hard not to. I don't know if it's a general trait found in humanity or just a personal quirk for myself, but I find myself getting into certain comfort zones. Which leads to certain routines. Or maybe the routines lead to the comfort zones.

Yes, I sleep in the same place in the bed. Occasionally I'll spread out if I feel like stretching a little, but by the middle of the night I end up back in my regular spot.

And so what if I eat my meals around the same time every day? Can I help it that I tend to get hungry at the same times? My work schedule dictates my lunch time on a daily basis. And we all know that dinner is at six o'clock. Don't question it. It just is.

*Question of the Week comes from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D.

10 Day You Challenge - One Picture of Myself

ONE PICTURE OF MYSELF

I thought about just posting a current image of myself using my webcam. But I really need to shave. And I should probably do something with my hair. Not that there's ever anything that I actually do with my hair. It always ends up the same way no matter what I do. But I didn't feel like dealing with this new-fangled technology. So this is a picture of me approximately 27 years ago. Sadly, I don't think this was my Halloween costume. Pretty sure I was wearing it just because...

10 Day You Challenge - Two Songs

TWO SONGS

Day Is Done - Peter, Paul & Mary

&

Dream On - Aerosmith

These aren't my favorite songs in the world. I like far too many songs to really have favorites. And even if I could possibly choose favorites, they would change within a few weeks. I don't listen to a lot of new music these days, but when I do, I'm usually able to find something I like. And as often as I listen to old music on CDs, it's not surprising that an old song might turn into a temporary favorite.

I chose Day Is Done because it holds a special place in my memory. I would never consider myself a fan of Peter, Paul & Mary. In fact, the only other song of theirs that I'm really familiar with would be Puff the Magic Dragon. But I love Day Is Done because it's something my Dad used to sing to me. He wouldn't sing the whole thing, just enough to calm me down when I was upset or scared. If I ever decide to grow up and have a son of my own, it's a song that I'll sing to him whenever he's upset or scared...

Tell me why you're crying, my son

I know you're frightened, like everyone

Is it the thunder in the distance you fear

Would it help if I stay very near?

I am here.

And if you take my hand, my son

All will be well when the day is done

And if you take my hand, my son

All will be well when the day is done

As far as a reason for why I chose Dream On... well... it's just awesome. It's one that I love to play in my car while I'm driving. I get a kick out of singing along and wailing at the tops of my lungs on the wicked high part at the end. If I ever manage to get people to go along on a karaoke night, I'm definitely singing that one. Just gonna blow everyone away.

10 Day You Challenge - Three Movies

THREE MOVIES

Remember how I've been occasionally giving my thoughts on movies from the American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time? At the same time, I've been occasionally ranking movies that I've seen through the incomparable website, Flickchart. The idea is that, once I'm finished with AFI's list, I'll have my own top 100 to share with you. And that's where my top three movies will come from today. At least, these are the top three as they are right now. They seem fairly accurate. So here goes...

1. Back to the Future - This should be a no-brainer for anyone who has read my blog once or twice.

2. The Empire Strikes Back - Absolutely the best of the entire Star Wars saga. You have Han Solo using a lightsaber for the first time. Princess Leia falling for the scruffy-looking nerf herder. And, SPOILER ALERT, the big reveal that Darth Vader is actually Luke Skywalker's father. Didn't see that one coming, did you?

3. The Matrix - While I consider the trilogy as a whole to be kind of disappointing, the original installment was pure awesome. And really, it would have been just fine as a stand alone feature. I could be wrong, but isn't this the movie that introduced the world to "bullet time"?

AFI 73 - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

1969

Directed by George Roy Hill

Netflix sleeve: Legendary outlaws Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) display their gifts for perfect comedic timing and charisma as they pull of heist after heist in this Academy Award-winning film from director George Roy Hill. To evade a relentless posse, the boys flee to Bolivia, thinking they'll find easier pickings there. But trouble finds the charming desperadoes wherever they go, prompting yet another run.

This is one I'm a little surprised I've never sat down to watch before. But it's probably because I generally do into things assuming I'm not going to like a Western. I need to stop assuming that because I thought this was a pretty great movie. I may not have seen the whole thing before, but certain scenes have been shown so many times that they're burned into my brain: Butch riding the bicycle with Etta to the song stylings of BJ Thomas, Butch and Sundance jumping off a cliff to evade their pursuers, and their last stand in Bolivia. Despite knowing the ending, I still kind of hoped that they would make it out okay. Spoiler alert... they probably didn't.

Question of the Week: Picking Up the Check

In a nice restaurant, after getting the check for an excellent meal, you notice that you were not charged for one of the items you ate. Would you tell the waitress?

I don't what constitutes a "nice" restaurant, but this has happened to me on a number of occasions. And I always say something whenever I'm undercharged. If I don't say something, I'm pretty sure karma would come back to bite me in the butt. Besides, more often than not, the waitress might thank me for my honesty and then not make me pay anyway. I'm pretty sure it's only happened once in my life that I brought up not being charged for something that they actually went back and corrected my bill and made me pay for what was left off. Whether they make me pay or not, I walk out of the restaurant with a clear conscience.

*Question of the Week comes from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D.

10 Day You Challenge - Four Books

FOUR BOOKS

                                                    Source: google.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Un) The Wizard of Oz - This is my favorite book of all time. In fact, I probably read through the original about once a year. It spawned 12 sequels written by L. Frank Baum, as well as countless Oz stories written by other authors. And how many times has it been made into movies? Plays? TV shows? Yeah... it's that good.

                                                  Source: Uploaded by user via Renee on Pinterest

Deux) Harry Potter - Don't make me pick just one. The entire series is phenomenal from start to finish. And it's even more fun to read the second time because there are so many little things that you can pick up on that you may not have gotten the first time around.

                                                     Source: None via Zuzu's on Pinterest

Trois) The Stand - I may have had some issues with the way things ended in this book, but it can't be denied that the scope of the story is epic.

                                                     Source: barnesandnoble.com via Rita on Pinterest

Quatre) The Hunger Games - The entire trilogy is great, but I've got to go with the one that introduced us to the world of Panem and the amazing Katniss Everdeen.

Thanks to Jeff B at A Word In Edgewise and CrystalChick at Mary Says.... for linking up and playing along! Go see how they've taken the challenge!

10 Day You Challenge - Five Foods

FIVE FOODS

                                                     Source: graphicshunt.com via Shelly on Pinterest

                                                   Source: google.com via Hailie on Pinterest

                                                  Source: sugarcrafter.net via Sara on Pinterest

                                                  Source: eatcakefordinner.blogspot.com via NUIC on Pinterest

                                                  Source: melskitchencafe.com via Brittany on Pinterest