Cliff's could no longer stand the silence. Like a piercing light cutting through a thick fog, Cliff's words suddenly knifed their way through the silence.
"It was a lovely service," he said. A chorus of nods ensued and sooner than he could have imagined the deathly silence immediately returned. How could they be so silent, so still, so emotionless at a time like this? He tried again to lay an assault on the silence, "I said it was a lovely service and all. You know with the birds overhead - and the clouds, the clouds were nice. Yeah, I think the birds and the deep blue clouds were a nice touch."
Dave, Cliff's father, looked awkwardly at the ground in front of him as if something in the soil or grass composition were too fascinating for him to turn his gaze. Yet his gaze seemed as if the whatever it was, it was too boring to truly engage his mind. Normally a very vocal and lively man, with a booming voice, his silence seemed to magnify the power of the past few moments.
Cliff fumbled with his tie waiting, as if he were watching his last few words slowly cascade to the floor. He was hoping that someone would latch on to his last breath before his final few words crashed on the floor. More than anything at this moment, Cliff was desperately working to avoid the silence and pleading that someone would speak - say anything - before the silence stormed back in. He was wearing his father's blue tie. It was a little long on him, but he had never owned his own tie. Three times he tried to tie it on his own. Once he thought they'd have to cut it off from around his red neck and blue face. His mother laughed as she untied him then. He had actually never really worn a tie before. So it was no wonder he didn't know how to tie it. A tie knot wasn't on the list of knots that he used. His world consisted of slip knots, and the bunny ears knot used to tie his shoes. As he flipped the tie over and noticed the tattered initials his grandmother had stitched on the back, he realized that he had actually never really dressed up before today. What a terrible first day to dress up for, he thought.
"It was a lovely service," he said. A chorus of nods ensued and sooner than he could have imagined the deathly silence immediately returned. How could they be so silent, so still, so emotionless at a time like this? He tried again to lay an assault on the silence, "I said it was a lovely service and all. You know with the birds overhead - and the clouds, the clouds were nice. Yeah, I think the birds and the deep blue clouds were a nice touch."
Dave, Cliff's father, looked awkwardly at the ground in front of him as if something in the soil or grass composition were too fascinating for him to turn his gaze. Yet his gaze seemed as if the whatever it was, it was too boring to truly engage his mind. Normally a very vocal and lively man, with a booming voice, his silence seemed to magnify the power of the past few moments.
Cliff fumbled with his tie waiting, as if he were watching his last few words slowly cascade to the floor. He was hoping that someone would latch on to his last breath before his final few words crashed on the floor. More than anything at this moment, Cliff was desperately working to avoid the silence and pleading that someone would speak - say anything - before the silence stormed back in. He was wearing his father's blue tie. It was a little long on him, but he had never owned his own tie. Three times he tried to tie it on his own. Once he thought they'd have to cut it off from around his red neck and blue face. His mother laughed as she untied him then. He had actually never really worn a tie before. So it was no wonder he didn't know how to tie it. A tie knot wasn't on the list of knots that he used. His world consisted of slip knots, and the bunny ears knot used to tie his shoes. As he flipped the tie over and noticed the tattered initials his grandmother had stitched on the back, he realized that he had actually never really dressed up before today. What a terrible first day to dress up for, he thought.
Just before the silence raided his world again, robbing him of peace and steeling away any notion of comfort, a deep sigh launched into the air. "Yes, it was a nice service," his mother replied. Her voice soothing and sweet. Finally, he thought, someone else has spoken. His eyes couldn't hid the excitement that the silence was finally broken. His mother always knew what to say, he thought to himself. His mind wandered to all of the falls, spills, and moments were her loving voice was the difference between healing and a continuing deluge of tears.
Yes, she continued, "It was a very lovely, service indeed!" She tried to nudge Dave into agreement as she looked back to Cliff. Dave winced, but his gaze remained cemented on the ground. Beverly, paused and caught Cliff's eyes as she continued to search for words of comfort. "Who would have ever thought that a lion would breath fire and kill danger man!"
Yes, she continued, "It was a very lovely, service indeed!" She tried to nudge Dave into agreement as she looked back to Cliff. Dave winced, but his gaze remained cemented on the ground. Beverly, paused and caught Cliff's eyes as she continued to search for words of comfort. "Who would have ever thought that a lion would breath fire and kill danger man!"
Suddenly Cliff wished the silence would return... it was still too raw.
Thanks for reading an excerpt from "What happens when a lion breathes fire on danger man." I'm not sure where this book will go, or when I will complete it, or even if this is all there is to it. All I know is I've carried around the title and the opening concept for almost three years without jotting down anything. Somehow I finally managed to open this first draft up and get it onto a page. Stay tuned... who knows when or how the story will roll back to the beginning of danger man.
Thanks.
Thanks for reading an excerpt from "What happens when a lion breathes fire on danger man." I'm not sure where this book will go, or when I will complete it, or even if this is all there is to it. All I know is I've carried around the title and the opening concept for almost three years without jotting down anything. Somehow I finally managed to open this first draft up and get it onto a page. Stay tuned... who knows when or how the story will roll back to the beginning of danger man.
Thanks.
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