Challenge Archives - Page 7 of 8 - SUSAN TIPPETT BRAITHWAITE

#Scotstober Day 4 #Shoogle

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Today’s word is shoogle. It means to shake, sway, jiggle. This isn’t the first time the word shoogle has appeared on my site. I used it in a Genre Scribes piece called Program, and seeing as I’d used it before, I thought why the hell don’t I do the whole bit in Scots. Here it is:

Martin preeset Enter oan the keyboard an waitit.
Naethin.
The screen bid as black as the Earl o Hell’s waistcoat, nae nithin tae beir thit the program wis aiven rinnin.
Is wisnae the time fur a seestem feck oop. Aathing wis timed doon tae the let saicont; gin hit didnae conform tae the ploy, he micht as weel aet a bullit richt noo.
The lichts oan the seestem server unit glentit reids an oranges.
Shite.
He rax oot an gied the external drive a shoogle. The lichts chynged tae green. Martin slid doon the wa an pecht.
A ongae bar ootcomed oan the screen, echty-seeven percent deen. He chackit heez watch; time wis rinnin oot fest—the gaird’s yokin chynge wis gey near ower.
The door-check it the en o the passage graint. Martin jeelt. The gaird wis airlie. Martin harlt oot the gun he hid doon heez breeks. Whit why did he brockt a gun? He wisnae graitht tae uise hit. He wisnae a murtherer—weel, nae by chice.

And now in English.

Martin pressed Enter on the keyboard and waited.
Nothing.
The screen remained pitch black, nothing to signify that the program was even running.
This was not the time for a system fuck up. Everything was timed down to the last second; if it didn’t run according to the plan, he might as well eat a bullet right now.
The lights on the server unit flashed reds and oranges.
Shit.
He reached up and shook the external drive the man had given him side-to-side. The lights changed to flickering green. Martin slumped against the wall and blew out a breath.
A progress bar appeared on the screen, eighty-seven percent done. He checked his watch; time was running out fast—the guard’s shift change was almost over.
The door at the end of the corridor groaned. Martin froze. The guard was early. Martin pulled out the gun he had tucked into his waistband. Why the hell did he bring a gun? He wasn’t prepared to use it. He wasn’t a killer—well, not by choice.

#Scotstober Day 3 #Nicht

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Today’s word is nicht. It means night. I was a wee bit short of time today and ended up stealing from Running The Asset‘s first draft. Anyway, here’s my response to the prompt:

“Five meenits intae the op an she ort the script. She’s nae got ony upbring tae dae whit she did the nicht. Gin ye hidnea makit thit ca, A’m gey sicker we’d be harlin hir oot the Mediterranean.” Ward shakit heez heid.
Adam didnae hae time fur is. “She did whit hid tae be duin.”
“Thit’s whit A’m feart o. Let time thit didnae pan oot tae weel fur ye.”
Adam’s chaft tichtent.
“Dinnae bither wae the coongerin luik, ye ken A’m richt.” He smirked, “An ye ken fine weel, A’ll boot yer erse fur ye.”
“Ay, richt sae ye wull.”

And now in English.

“Five minutes into the op and she ditched the script. She’s got no training to do what she did tonight. If you hadn’t made that call, I’m pretty sure we’d be fishing her out of the Mediterranean.” Ward shook his head.
Adam didn’t have time for this. “She did what had to be done.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. Last time that didn’t pan out too well for you.”
Adam’s jaw clenched.
“Don’t bother with the intimidation look, you know I’m right.” He smiled,“And you know well enough that I’ll kick your arse.”
“Yes, sure you can.”

#Scotstober Day 2 #Seelie

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Today’s word is seelie. It means happy, lucky, blessed. And, here’s my response to the prompt:

“Dae ye huv tae staun sae close?” Evie skelt awa fae Cole, the eesome bastirt.
Cole wis gowlie. “Jist mak on thit ye dinnae wint tae fell me. Hit’s nae at defeeckwalt,” he luikit it hir, “A’m daen hit richt noo.”
“Get tae—“
He harlt hir, oxterin hir ticht. “The prap’s here.” Cole clapit hir rig lik they wur winchin.
Evie focht agin the hait and seelie growein fae whar Cole’s haun wis. “A hate ye.”
“Ay, sure ye dae.” He turnt tae hir an pred her mou.

And now in English.

“Do you have to stand so close?” Evie sidestepped Cole, the handsome bastard.
Cole scowled. “Just pretend that you don’t want to kill me. It’s not that hard,” he gave her a pointed look, “I’m doing it right now.”
“Go to—”
He pulled her to him, his arm wrapped tight around her. “The target’s here.” Cole stroked his hand up and down her back like they were lovers.
Evie fought against the heat and happiness that was growing inside her from Cole’s touch. “I hate you.’
“Of course you do.” He turned to her and kissed her.

It’s #Scotstober

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Back in 2019, I started a series of posts called Thing in Scots. The series has languished for a while, and I’ve been wanting to get it up and running again. Cue Scotstober.

Scotstober is a challenge on Twitter where there’s a Scots word prompt for each day of October. You can follow it by using the #Scotstober hashtag.

Today’s word is mirk. It means dark, gloomy, night. And, here’s my response to the prompt:

Walton kept the edgie, peerin through the mirk o the wynd as he waitit fur Leigh tae answer him. “Did ye dae hit or no?” He pied doon his neb, ower heez fantoosh, wee glesses.
“Naw.” She oxtert hir hauns tae protecke fae the cauld.
“Naw? Naw?” Walton’s eens near burst oot his heid. “A kent better than tae uise a wee quine fir a mannie’s joab.” He went fir hir then, a saicant tae late.
Leigh smirked as she rammed the beetyach intae heez thairm. “Thit’s whit they aw say.”

And now in English.

Walton was on high alert, peering through the darkness of the alley as he waited for Leigh to answer him. “Did you do it or not?” He peered down his nose, over his flashy, small glasses.
“No.” She tucked her hands into her armpits to protect them from the cold.
“No? No?” Walton’s eyes bulged. “I knew better than to have a girl do a mans job.” he went for her then, a second too late.
Leigh smiled as she shoved the small knife into his gut. “That’s what they all say.”

Chasing Dreams

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It’s the final day of D65’s 7 Posts 7 Days challenge. I want to say a quick thank you to her for sharing her challenge with us. It’s been fun getting back into daily posting, and it’s been this challenge that’s pushed me to get the posts out.

Here’s today’s prompt: Write about something that you have always dreamed about doing and why you haven’t done it (yet).

I’m a wee bit of a goal chaser (sometimes it’s a good thing, other times eh, nope). Which makes this post difficult to answer. Any dream I’ve had, I’ve worked to get it/do it/see it. (Lifelong dream of standing on Santa Monica Pier: check; drive a Mustang: check; become a marksman: check; fly a glider: check—you get the idea.) And, my new dreams are goals that I’m in the process of working toward.

First time at Santa Monica Pier! (I still blame Saved by the Bell for that dream)

If I duck outwith reality, I have a boatload of dreams that I haven’t achieved, either because they’re illegal or the tech isn’t here, yet. (😺):

Be a house cat for one week—I’d just have fun knocking things off tables and shelves. Oh, and I’d meow way more than I do now.
Be a much-loved dog for a day—I don’t know if I could handle more than that, ’cause of the tail chasing.
Rob a bank—without violence, more of a con job.
Bill and Ted it around time and space.
Sit at my desk and download the novels in my head straight to my computer, and have them be coherent.

Thanks for reading!

Santa Monica Pier photo credit: Me.

What Are You Grateful For?

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It’s day six of D65’s 7 Posts 7 Days challenge, and the prompt is: What are you most grateful for in life?

Obviously, Jez. But, outwith my beloved and all his awesomeness, it’s a bit difficult to answer.

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I’m going to deviate a bit from D65’s prompt for Day 5 of her 7 Posts 7 Days.
The prompt is: Write a letter to someone explaining your life right now.

It’s an excellent prompt, but I don’t have anyone I feel I need to explain my life to. Also, if it’s pertinent in my life right now, it’s on my Now page—no reason to repeat myself.

So, here’s the deviation bit. I’m going to have one of my characters write the letter (it’s an email, ‘cause he doesn’t do snail-mail).

The character is Ward Mitchell, the hero from my second Deniable Unit series. He’s responding to an email from his childhood (and former Army) buddy, Laughlin.

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The Book that Changed My Thinking

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Today’s prompt from D65’s 7 Posts 7 Days challenge is: A book/film that has changed the way that you think.

I have to say, that’s a tough one to answer. Before books and movies, my first love was music. A band called James really shaped my thinking about life, love, and politics. One song that really struck a chord with me was Government Walls. As a kid who grew up in Scotland while Thatcher used us as guinea pigs for her cruel policies, this song really upped my scrutiny of those in power.

Back to books and movies

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A Day I'll Never Forget

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Woohoo! It’s day three of D65’s 7 Posts 7 Days challenge. I apologize in advance, this is a bit longer than my usual posts.

Today’s prompt is: Write about a day that you will never forget.

I had a few ideas for this post but realized I only had one that was a whole day that I’d never forget. You’re going to have to indulge me on this one. It’s romantic in nature, well, romantic in my world.

The day I’ll never forget is the first day that Jez and I spent any real time together.

If I’d had my way, I would never have been there. Why? Well, let me take you back to the late ‘90s…

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