Writing journal

Short Story Based on the Words

Landmark : Steak house

Cooking : Potatoes

Planets : Observatory

Dress : Skirt

Drink : Iced tea

Glasses : Beverage Running Head : Short Story

Word Association Short Story : Dinner for the Alien

Student Name

Professor Name

Class

I was just leaving the steak house when my cell phone rang . I balanced a Styrofoam container of leftovers in one hand and flipped open my phone with the other

It 's Ray ' came the breathless voice in my ear . We 've got an emergency at the

observatory . I need you here - and fast

I agreed to come right away . I set the container with half a baked potato and the remainder of a New York strip carefully on the seat next to me as I got in my car and revved the engine . The tires screeched as I shot out into the dwindling traffic of a sultry summer night and headed for the freeway

By the time I reached the observatory , Ray was already standing outside the door of the white , domed building . He had a glass of iced tea in his hand , the condensation dripping onto the rough pavers of the pathway leading up the hill

I hailed Ray as I hurried along the path , the leftovers in my grasp Some emergency , huh ? You 've got time to enjoy a cool beverage while the world gets blown up ? I brought you some food to go with it ' I inclined my head at the container in my hand

He laughed in response . Thanks . What took you so long , anyway

I was just finishing dinner , Ray . I got here as fast as I could ' A strong gust of wind blew up from the valley below and lifted the hem of my skirt . I impatiently smoothed it down and kept my palm against my thigh as I regarded Ray in the soft moonlight filtering through the trees . So what was the emergency

False alarm . Sorry ' he said , taking a long sip of his beverage

It was then I noticed the strange color of the ice cubes in his iced tea glass - a glowing , neon green . A speck of foam glittered at the corner of Ray 's mouth and I stepped back in alarm , nearly tripping over my long skirt . A strange , worm-like creature emerged from the foam on Ray 's chin and I watched in fascination it grew to enormous proportions . It squirmed and wriggled and suddenly shot forward , pinning me to the ground

The last thing I remembered was seeing Ray 's face melting away like wax and the huge pincers of the worm greedily attacking the steak and potatoes in my to-go container

Short Story - PAGE 2...