A

Chapter 2

Mortimer, proprietor of "Fix it or Forget it," would know what to do. After all, he was Agnes' brother. Charlie crossed the street in a few quick strides. He had entered the general store nearly every day of his adult life, but this was the first time he could remember being so very angry. The bell jangled to announce his arrival and Charlie didn't stop to smell the paint thinner and saw dust in the air.

"Mortimer, she's done it. She's gone too far!"
The shop owner looked up from his morning newspaper behind the counter with a grimace. He folded the paper with purpose, rubbed his eyes behind his spectacles, and sighed,
"Charlie. I told her you'd be hotter than the Gobi, but she wouldn't listen. Never would listen to me anyway."
"Well why didn't you stop her? Lock her in the tool shed, something!"
"She called me from Arizona. It was too late. Charlie, old friend. . . . I think she's . . . sweet on you." With this admission, Mortimer began folding and refolding his newspaper and glancing nervously at the door.
Now, this was not what Charlie expected. Instantly the situation shifted. Charlie was no longer angry. This news effectively transferred the situation from the realm of revenge to the shifting uncertainty of woman trouble. Charlie was terrified.
"Sweet on me. You think? Now why would she go and do a thing like that?"
"Now, I don't know. I can't be sayin. She's been your friend for nearly 50 years, Charlie. There's no telling when a thing like that gets a brewin'. She's been baking you a lemon meringue pie every Christmas for a decade. . . "
"Well, zounds, Mortimer, now what am I supposed to do?"

a.) "Run for the hills, my friend. this is no place for a man of principles."

b.) "Have you thought about calling on Julia? Its been 12 hours and she may be less inclined to kill you."

c.) "Agnes said that when you came to your senses you'd call her. She's staying at your mother's house. . . "

ok

with only two votes, I'm unable to choose a winner. Its one of those unbreakable laws of mathematics. . . along with infinite numbers meaning infinite word problems. apparently. thought I'd toss that out there.

Eric wins!

Chapter 1

“ Zounds!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Agnes hadn’t flaunted the Taupe diamond all the way to Monkey’s Eyebrow, AZ, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. He was still fuming as he fastened his suspenders and by the time he had buttoned his smoking jacket, he was determined. It was Saturday, mid September, and the mist that still hung around the street lights made the general store across the street seem cloaked in mystery. Charlie felt reckless. And not a little vengeful. Agnes would be made to give back the diamond and publicly denounce this damaging story of their engagement. Agnes had always been a reasonable person. Charlie was confident he would have made sure of that before asking her to make Julia jealous. It was all so alarming and embarrassing. Charlie straightened his tie and exited his apartment building into the mist.

a) Mortimer, proprietor of "Fix it or Forget it," would know what to do. After all, he was Agnes' brother.

b) Charlie was going to find Julia. She had never followed through on a threat to shoot him yet . . .

c) Monkey's Eyebrow was only a day's journey away, and by gum Agnes couldn't hide there forever!

(p.s. see below for all the results of the MadLibs)

The MadLibs Are . . .

“ ___exclamation_____” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if ____woman’s name____ hadn’t flaunted the ____color____ diamond all the way to ____location____, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé.

“ Oh no you di’n’t!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Shitea hadn’t flaunted the lavender diamond all the way to Pittsburg, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. (Brook)

“Ooo Doctor!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Cora hadn’t flaunted the orchid diamond all the way to Khartoum, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. (Lori)

“You left the oven on?!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Gloria hadn’t flaunted the lime green diamond all the way to Concord Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. (Cree)

“Not to 50!!!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Gladys hadn’t flaunted the crimson diamond all the way to Mt. Horad, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. (Erin)

“My eyes!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Miranda hadn’t flaunted the black diamond all the way to Yellowstone, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. (Danielle)

“ Zounds!” was the first thing out of Charlie’s mouth that morning. For you see, if Agnes hadn’t flaunted the Taupe diamond all the way to Monkey’s Eyebrow, AZ, Charlie would still have his dignity and maybe even a fiancé. (Eric)

MadLib meets Choose Your Own Adventure

I've decided its time for another foray into the wonderful world of writing. And this time, the beginning of the Choose Your Own Adventure story will be a MadLib. One of YOU (3) readers will choose the direction of the tale.

I need: a woman's name, a color, a geographical location, and an exclamation . . . leave your answer in the comments. It begins.

Andrew Peterson Blog Tour 2009

"North! Or Be Eaten"

“Eaten by what?” you may ask. The list of probable predators is daunting in itself: a Gargan Rockroach, the legendary Bomnubble, a horned hound, the dreaded toothy cow, the Fangs of Dang, to name a few. For the Igiby family and for those who would defend them, the pages of Andrew Peterson’s second book in the Wingfeather Saga are filled with dastardly opposition. And yet (perhaps more dangerous than the wild creatures of the forest and the evil plans of Gnag the Namless) the most sinister threat to their safety lies within.

Peterson wastes no time in the sequel to “On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.” I was unable to extricate myself from the story, as it immediately swept the three Igiby children into danger and me along with them. Peterson does a masterful job of keeping the plot exciting and developing the characters in the story. Most poignant to me was the theme of identity in the book. Janner and Tink and Leeli are torn between the people they are destined to be and the fear and jealousy that threaten to rip them apart. The story is about redemption, forgiveness, courage, and the power of beauty. I’m rereading it. It was that good.



Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his website www.andrew-peterson.com