Writing Prompt 29

[Tommie Lyn]

This may be my last writing prompt for a while....NaNo takes precedence in November, LOL.

This prompt is courtesy of my crit partner and is to be written in 300 or fewer words, no special credit words:

Your mother was reading a novel on the best seller list the day you were born. She named you after the main character and the name has haunted your life.


Have fun.

TL

[Tommie Lyn]

A Rose by Any Other Name

Word Count: 247



If I ever meet Felicity Anderson, there's no telling what I might do.

Like I told my best friend, Jerry, that woman made my life a misery with her stupid book, Paine's Prairie, with the even stupider character with the stupidest name: Precious Peggety Paine.

The reason that's a problem for me is that book was on the bestseller list when I was born. Mama read it, loved it, and since our family name is Paine, Mama thought it would be cool to name me Precious Peggety.

So, I'm facing a lifetime of embarrassment and misery because of my name. And I can't even go by my initials. Ol' Johnny Cash don't even know what trouble is, being a boy named Sue. He should try being a boy named Precious.

But Jerry, he give me some hope today. He told me his daddy said when you get growed up, you can go to the courthouse and get your name changed to something else. So, if I make it all the way to eighteen, that's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna start saving money to pay for it.

And Jerry helped me come up with the perfect name. See, we been reading them Vindicator comics, you know, the ones about the evil hordes and the heroes that tear 'em up and straighten 'em out. He said I oughta name myself after the main hero.

So, after I hit eighteen, you'll be knowing me as Juan the Great Paine.

[Laina]

LOL Tommie, cute story. I'll put my thinking cap on.

[vpwriter]

For those, like me, want to know the actual list of New York's Best Seller for your birthday up to 1970, this should help http://www.hawes.com/pastlist.htm
(http://www.hawes.com/pastlist.htm)

I'll get my prompt done later.

[vpwriter]

Word Count 233:

I have a secret. A secret that has been both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes its great to have, other times I wish I had never had it. Some people praised me for it. Others belittled me for it. What is my secret? My name.

My name is Atreyu Locklear although I usually just go by Trey. Interesting name right? Some people thought so. A lot of other people think it’s the stupidest thing they ever heard. My father grew up in Berlin before making his way to the states and eventually meeting my mother. It was interesting how they met. My mother was reading a new book in the park which my father happened to grow up with before it was translated into English. The Never Ending Story brought my parents together and thus, I was christened Atreyu as a remembrance to how my parents met through a book.

Most people think my name is pretty cool but only my family calls me by my full name. It’s mostly just Trey with my friends. Most people can’t believe the fact my name is Atreyu, having grown up with the movies. “Do you get to ride a luck dragon??” “DO as you wish!” Just a sample of what I get from new people meeting for the first few times. I suppose it could be worse. At least I wasn’t named Moon Child.

[Tommie Lyn]

Good story, vpwriter. I wish they had a list of prior year bestsellers for us old folks who were born before 1970....

TL

[Laina]

Ask, and you shall receive!

http://www3.isrl.uiuc.edu/~unsworth/courses/bestsellers/best30.cgi

http://www3.isrl.uiuc.edu/~unsworth/courses/bestsellers/best40.cgi

http://www3.isrl.uiuc.edu/~unsworth/courses/bestsellers/best50.cgi