Day 18 - Porch posse

August 18 - On the front porch

From the front porch he could, and had, seen everything.  Neighbors moving in and out, old friends dying, children playing, family fights, new boyfriends and girlfriends sharing thier first kiss goodnight, cars full of whooping youths off to a football game and limos at prom time.  You can see the lifeblood of the neighborhood pulse from his front porch.  A silent guardian, he watched.  Once upon a time it had been him; playing in the street, getting his first car, kissing his girlfriend goodnight, going off to prom, bringing his new bride home, welcoming a son, then a daughter, watching them follow the same pattern.  Now his children lived across town and his wife was dead.  He had retired years ago and all he had to do now was watch.  Some of the older neighbors knew him and would greet him as they passed by on their weekly ambles, "Hello Frank."  He would raise a spotted hand in return and ask after their children, or grandchildren, or newest hobby.  They would chat a few minutes then move on and he would return to his watching.  A few of the newer neighbors would stop too, greeting him with a respectful "Mr. Foster".  These conversations were shorter, the younger generation buzzing with energy and eager to be off.  And then he would return to watching.
The local police knew him too, and if anything happened on his street he was the first to call or the first they asked.  So when someone broke into the Hamill's house and he didn't call, the officers didn't feel bad about breaking into his house.  They found him in his armchair by the window, a plate of mashed potatoes and cor sitting on one side, a picture of his wife on the other.  And sitting in his lap, the phone.  91 were the last numbers he dialed.
His funeral was held on a sunny Saturday morning, attended by his family, the few friends he had that were still alive, and half of the local police force.  When his son and daughter went to his home afterward they were shocked to find his front porch covered in flowers.  There were notes from almost every house on the surrounding two blocks.  A few minutes later the neighbors themselves began to trickle in, a few bringing food to eat.  Soon his little house was full of all the people he had ever known.  Neighbors who had never spoken exchanged stories of how he had rescued their dog or stopped an egging or simply been a friendly face.  He would have been proud to see how he brought the neighborhood together.  And tickled by the annual BBQ held in his honor.

I've read this to two people.  One cried and the other teared up.
This prompt took on a life of it's own!  I immediately saw a little old man and an old, grey, tall Victorian/New England style house when I read the prompt and it went from there.  I've since decided that Frank Foster was a police officer before he retired and his kids were more than a little embarrassed about their father's "meddling" in the neighborhood but were put in their place by the neighborhood's turn out.  
I've had it strongly suggested that this be turned into a screenplay/movie.  What do you think?  I can certainly see composing music to go with it!

Day 18 - Your Validation Posse

"We're all skinless when we write, all nerves and need.  To find the right people to read what we're writing ... is fraught with danger."
"We need people who have no agenda with us yet have faith in us, who will validate what we're trying to do and let us know we're not wasting our time.  People who know how to critique with generosity, honesty, and wisdom.  We hand over a lot of power to these people, so choose your posse carefully."

Rarely have truer words been spoken or written.  It is so hard writing without validation, and so hard to share without worrying too much about what others think.  I am very fortunate to have several friends I can ask for critiques.  Deanna and Cat are my validation posse.  I can trust Deanna to bring my flights of fancy back down to realistic earth or make a humorous scene twice as funny.  And I can trust Cat to tkae the time to read what I've written and give me feedback.
I do questions my scenes still though and wish I got more plot reviews.  Help anyone?

Somebody, review, PLEASE!  Am I talking to myself here?