We’re going to have a bit of fun here at The Killzone today. At least, I’m pretty sure it’ll be fun…
Have you heard of The Storymatic? Check out this website. It’s also available for purchase on Amazon. There are several versions of the game also–even one especially for the kiddos in your life.
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So, here’s what I’d like to do.
I have chosen four “story prompt cards” from the box. See below.
There are two “plot” cards and two “character” cards from which to build a story.
Then, (and this is the audience participation part) you will use the prompts to write the first line or first paragraph or so of the story and share it with us right here on TKZ. Sound fun?
Here’s our assignment:
CHARACTERS: House Cleaner, Investigative Reporter
PLOT: Something Inside The Wall, Safety Deposit Box
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Now it’s your turn, TKZers. Give us the first line or paragraph of your story using the above prompts. Don’t hold back now!
Look for mine in the comments. Let’s go for it . . .
It was hot in L.A. So was the house I was cleaning. Supposedly.
I was really here on a mission. Because somewhere inside these walls was the safety deposit box of Al Capone.
Geraldo’s House Cleaning Service was just a cover
Excellent!
Agreed!
Al Capone . . . now why didn’t I think of that?
Good job, Jim. Fun, right?
Have a good hunt! 🙂
As Gertrude entered the house through the back door, ‘never use the front door,’ she noticed the spot on the kitchen floor.
“Everyday, some new mess. Really? Why can’t they clean up a spot on the floor!”
She put her supplies carrier on the table. She removed the floor cleaner all the time babbling about the owners of the house. As she drew closer to the spot, she stopped. She bent down for a closer look. She gasped and fell back into the table. Screaming, she fell to the floor.
Hi Fran.
I’m left with wondering if it was a spot of blood or brain matter on the floor.
Turning the page now… 🙂
Have a great day!
I winced as she shook my hand, realigning my knuckles.
“You’d be ‘Coop,'” she said, and grinned a gap-toothed smile in my direction.
“Yes, ma’am. Rodney Cooper, President and CEO of ‘Coop Snoops, Journalist Investigations and People Locators since 2023.'” I handed her one of my cards.
She parked her more-than-ample tuchus on a corner of my desk, knocking over my gold plaster bust of Allan Pinkerton. “I’m Maybelle Gilby. People say I’m snoopy, but I’m not. I’m just observant. Haw! Haw! Haw!”
“And what have you observed that you want my help with?” I covertly massaged my right hand back into its previous shape.
“I clean houses fer a livin’. Don’t got no cards.” She adjusted her denim-covered rump, sending Allan to the floor with a crash. “Oops. I’ll sweep that up fer ya before I leave. This mornin’, I found somethin’ a trifle suspicious up in the Ol’ Endicott mansion.”
“Is this going to be the ‘safe deposit box scam?'” I asked her, “Where you con me into paying half the cost of a ‘locksmith’ to open the box?”
“Nope. There’s bulge in one o’ the walls.”
“So?”
“It smells like it’s Endicott.”
Good morning, J.
I like it, I like it! Especially this:
“Nope. There’s bulge in one o’ the walls.”
“So?”
“It smells like it’s Endicott.”
I’m turning the page!
Who knew Toledo’s recently murdered mayor was a fan of Dexter, the sweetest, most lovable, family man serial killer on Earth?
Probably only me, your very manly, heterosexual Daily Record reporter, who dressed in drag, got hired as a house cleaner, and found the mayor’s blackmail journal behind the grate of his mistress’s in-wall A/C unit.
You’re welcome, my diligent readers.
Good morning, Dean!
. . . the sweetest, most lovable, family man serial killer on Earth?
Didn’t see that coming! I’d like a peek at that journal for sure!
Have a great day…
Here’s mine:
Stanley held his head in his hands. The banging was getting to him. He couldn’t concentrate. His mind zoomed in a thousand different directions, trying to come up with a way–any way–to hide what he’d done. There was a void where ideas were supposed to be. If only his wife hadn’t hired this company to come and deep clean their house TODAY of all days. What were they doing up there, for heaven’s sake?
He pushed his chair back, but–then–it stopped. Relief at last.
A deep voice boomed from overhead. “Hey, Freddo, ya gotta come and look what I found!” An answer drifted down, but Stanley couldn’t hear it.
“Yeah, Freddo, I’m in the baby’s room!”
Oh, no! Stanley’s head jerked up, his eyes darting to the ceiling above his home office. They’d found it! Now what?
Stanley quietly opened the bottom right drawer of his desk.
It’s now or never.
Cleaning houses was better than cleaning offices. Both were better than cleaning hotel rooms. Making 30 beds a day, cleaning 20 toilets and showers was the worst. Abra hauled her carrier of cleaning supplies up the steps, through the nine foot doorway and into the front hall. She always wondered why the dining room tables were set up when no one would be eating. But there was gold trimmed dinner plates and glassware for eight around the table. She got out her duster and started at the top, dusting the room. Next would be the chandeliers. She would dust and polish then vacuum just before leaving.
Then she saw it. Behind the china cabinet. One of the pictures was pulled from the wall. In the cubbie behind the picture, she saw the gold coins. Then she saw the bloody knife.
Good Friday morning, Alan.
She always wondered why the dining room tables were set up when no one would be eating. But there was gold trimmed dinner plates and glassware for eight around the table.
I like this detail, Alan. It sets a mysterious tone, even before you get to the coins and the bloody knife. It made me ask, “Who are these people, anyway?” So, for sure, I’m turning the page.
Have a good one!
Thank you. From my days delivering pizza to the rich and famous, having the dining room set, three forks, glassware, holiday runners, etc was fairly common.
I noticed a lot of cleaners so I whipped up an investigator:
In my father’s day, I would spend most of my time in the back rooms of libraries or county offices in front of file cabinets. I am the son part of Labadie and Sons, Investigations. There was no second son, just me. I spend most of my day in front of a computer screen. Today I am looking for Frank Parnell, general sleaze ball. Frank harasses girls. He uses the phone registered in his name. In two hours, I have his home and work address. His hobbies (fishing and golf). His wife’s name. His favorite vacation spot in Florida and addresses for his kids. Before lunch my client will have all of the information and a bill. Frank will be told how to keep his family from finding his prostitute hobby, and another file will get sealed and dropped in my safe deposit box.
“In two hours, I have his home and work address.”
Scary how easy it is…
Thanks for another take on the assignment, Alan.