Hah. I did a triple take on eight-not-eighty.

Hair-fetishist me wrote this drabble:

When I was in high school, I usually sat behind Lauren. Lauren had nice hair. And she'd let me play. She'd let me braid.

A braid is a fascinating knot, an artistic knot. Right-over, left-over, right-over, left, with an orderly, aesthetic result. I'd braid and comb out, for hours on end, my hands, my eyes, and my mind all employed in the tying of my artistic knots. A guilty pleasure.

Now, when I'm in class, I remember braiding. I remember my friend, who let me tie up her hair in my inexpert knots, because, against all odds, she loved me.

Yay, the eight-year-old lace maker! I do bobbin lace as well, and I was thinking of doing something with lace for this drabble.

My lacemaker came from a photo, years ago, in an article on Brussels lace in Victoria magazine. She sat, in her velvet dress with its lace collar, her hair done up in French braids, her face a study in concentration.

I really wanted to do one about eight-year-old and younger rugmakers in the near east. I may still do.

Deb, glad it was helpful--I can't check my home email until tonight though, so if you want to email me between now and then (or to know what your response was last night, which I haven't read), try my work email: ktaylor at waterfordschools dot org

I adore the drabbles from last night. Gorgeous, moving, and different!

Delurking in this thread with my first drabble....

The woman told me to tie the knots tightly, holding my wishes in my mind as I formed each one. The string would fall off my wrist, and when it did, the things I sought would find me.

That was a month ago. The knots at my hand have grown dirty, started to smell of chlorine and cigarette smoke. They are brownish-gray, but tightly knotted as ever. It’s time to cut them off, before they sink right into my skin.

I reach for the scissors, and the string catches and pulls on the handle of the drawer. It pops, and my wrist is free. As I rub it, I sit, and I wait.

Frou Frou, Christopher Pike, and a good writer?

What is this based on? I assume it's an actual practice, but I haven't heard of it. I like how the string accidentally comes off. It actually sounds like the basis for a great story.

Deb, I can beta today.

What is this based on? I assume it's an actual practice, but I haven't heard of it. I like how the string accidentally comes off. It actually sounds like the basis for a great story.

I remember new age-y shops used to sell these bracelets with certain intentions: money, love, etc., that you'd tie on, and you'd get it when it fell off. But last year during playoff season, I read an article saying to tie a yellow string in 3 knots while repeating some phrase to dispel the Curse of The Bambino so the Sox would win the series. Not that I did it, or anything.

(poking head in briefly)

Dear beta readers: OK. I am down to the last couple of pages; we're at the circus and major major shit is about to start. Shall I send what I have, or wait?