http://slow.writerscafe.org/PossumCat The original writings of author Kelsey Schadt en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1775997038 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 For the Hook Me contest http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1598761/ For a contest http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1598565/ Last Chapter http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1595923/ I N THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, Carl returned to the hospitalto keep Carlene company as much as the hospital staff allowed. He brought hercomic books and word searches, they told each other silly stories, and passedthe time playing cards. “They conta.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1595404/ T ALKING TO THE POLICE officers seemedlike a godsend compared to the hell of waiting for news from the doctor. Theclock appeared frozen as Carl tried to track the passage of time. He thoughtback to when he was much younger and his dad would promise to pick him up.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1595395/ C ARL DIDN’T HEAR HIS MAMA’S sharp inhaleof breathe when she walked up behind him. The flashing light and the screaming siren,as he watched the paramedics load Carlene onto a stretcher, were enough tooverwhelm anyone’s senses. As the paramedics .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1594885/ D ESPITE THE OBVIOUS FUTILITY of Carlene’ssituation, Carl knew he needed to get some help and as much as JebWalker would have been the last person he would turn to in a situation likethis, his house was the closest. Carl sprinted towards the run-down ranch .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1594861/ C ARL RUMMAGED THROUGH the junk drawer,narrowly missing the sharp end of a thumb tack. “For Peter’s sake,” hemuttered, trying out an adult phrase to go with his new adult age. Although hismama had to work until six, she would be home in plenty o.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1594700/ IMPATIENTLY TAPPING HER FOOT, Carlenecried, “Jesus Christmas! Could this connection be any slower?”  Her eyesfollowed the loading icon. Each sluggish rotation increased Carlene’santicipation     “Patience, younggrasshopper,” Carl res.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1594690/                T HE SHEETS ON CARL’S BED were weighing himdown, suffocating the air from his lungs. He kicked his legs free from theirclutch and let the night breeze pass over his toes, which, unfortunately, did.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1594234/ Each day and each night he could think of nothing but Carlene. As if a video stuck on replay was projecting in his mind, Carl relived every minute of their last conversation. He was spread his mashed potatoes around his dish, oozing the white goop through the prongs in his forks. “Are you .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1590229/ Carl discovers a piece of Carlene's past that could put her in danger. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1588907/   F LASHES OF BRIGHT WHITE WOKE CARL fromhis fitful sleep.  Carlene, he thought bolting upright, scanning his room for her silhouette.The rumble of distant thunder made Carl realize that Carlene’s flashlight hadnot been what woke him, only lightning fr.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1585187/ “ J ESUS CHRISTMAS!” CARLENE SHOUTED whenshe saw his face.“You don’t look much better, yourself,”countered Carl, pointing to the bruises that splashed up and down Carlene’sarms like a watercolor painting .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1584268/      7. D AY QUICKLY FADED INTO DUSK and Carlknew he had to head home to avoid biking in darkness. Not many streetlampsworked anymore. Maybe if Carlene’s father got a job on the maintenance crew, hecould fix that.  Carl knew from thenovels .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1582626/   CARL WOKE AGAIN, THIS TIME to the actualsun beating on his face. His alarm clock read 11:48. He had almost slept to noon,a true feat for Carl, whose best record had been 10:43 am"a record set duringthe week Carl stayed home from school, sick with the flu. Carl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1582415/ T HE SUN STREAMED THROUGH CARL’Scurtains. He didn’t remember going to sleep. Carl clawed his hand through hissheets, searching for the letter and his composition book. His mama probablyput it on his desk when she checked in on him that night. As much as h.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1580373/ C ARL RETURNED HOME UNDER a watercolorsky. Brilliant pinks swirled into blues; dabs of yellows melted into oranges�"Carl’sfavorite time of day. Sometimes, when Carl felt daring, he’d climb out hisbedroom window, and lay with his back flat agai.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1578605/   P ULLING OPEN THE METAL rimmed screendoor that led into the kitchen, Carl carefully shut the door behind him. Toooften when rushing, Carl let the screen door swing close behind him, andunprepared for its swift closing, got snagged in the ankle by the rusted met.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1576488/   “W HAT ARE YOU STARING AT, kid?” grunted whatlooked like Sasquatch’s dirtier, fouler cousin.Carl felt his mouth agape as he stared up at the towering man.Looking at him was like looking at an eclipse: He seemed to block the sunentirely.  .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1574235/ C ARL BARELY NOTICED THE SLIGHT TREMOR ofthe window glass from where he lay in bed. The persistent throbbing was ontrack to become, yet again, the bassline for his summer soundtrack. Dull,monotonous, never changing, just like his tired old town. Ever since his best f.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1574234/ http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/PossumCat/1574231/