I'm thinking best, Susan. I'm always impressed when I go back and read something I wrote and even I laugh. I figure if my own jokes can take me by surprise, I did something right. So if you're making yourself cry, I think you're on the right track.

Maybe. But I've found that many scenes I thought were beautiful, artistic works of subtle foreshadowing and layered themes at the time I was writing them were actually too clever by half and had to be deleted the next day--or usually a month or two later when I was finally objective enough to judge. So it wouldn't surprise me if what strikes me as touching today will reveal itself to be maudlin once I've come down from the writer high.

Teppy, are we celebrating an anniversary? Two people, one standing, one sitting was the first-ever drabble we had, I think. Wasn't it?

I thought the first was one standing, one lying down.

Porno

oh please oh please...

It's a dare. She's dared herself, and of course he's taken her up on it. It's what they do; she charging headlong into shadow, light, the echo of dark disturbance, he egging her on, reaping the reward.

pleasepleaseplease

It was he who upped the ante, suggesting the high heels. No way to say to say no, not for her. Now, wearing nothing else, she stands as he sits and makes himself comfortable, and reaches behind her and pulls her close.

A few minutes later, she goes down in a puddling heap. And he wins another dare.

Heh, Deb. Nice.

Hil, you're right. Memory's leaking like a sieve these days.

I'm taking an odd comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one who instantly went to porn when she saw the drabble topic. I tried to write a very similar one last night and then my brain said "no", mainly, I think, because it was completely exhausted.

After work today, I'll tackle this one.

I didn't, but I might *now*. Thanks. Might be fun to write about live bodies. I've given the prompt to my friend? The one that inspired the book, right? He's been complaining of being stuck.So I said "Here's a challenge. Go." I feel like such a top right now!

Teppy, are we celebrating an anniversary? Two people, one standing, one sitting was the first-ever drabble we had, I think. Wasn't it?

The very first one was two people seated at a table, across from each other.

Later, we did the two people, one standing and one lying down.

OK, this turned out...unexpected. It's what I get for writing first thing. I should not, probably. But yes, I really had this conversation with somebody, back when

She misses the authority of standing, though she’s never had it. No subtle physical cue to say “Ok, we’re done,” no drawing up to “her full height”. She isn’t sure, even, what impression that would make. Could she ever be imposing? Sometimes her women friends that can walk are no help at all. “Erika gets the perfect view of most men.” they say. I am at eye level with most men’s crotches, and at parades my view is mostly asses. It takes a...special view to attract my attention in such instances.One tells me about a client she worked with who never went to a party without her ruler in her wheelchair, that she called her “peter meter.” The girls think this is a great hoot. I think it’s sad. Because if they aren’t going to want you to touch it, what are the stats for? For when you make your collage? Since I tend to put the “cerebral” in “cerebral palsy” my argument stalls after “It could be a pecker checker, too, I guess.” I don’t have the words for that.

“Ooh,” one says. “You can bring your claw and fake having a muscle spasm and ‘sample the merchandise’ But I’m sampling nothing playing cyborg grab ass with a stranger. I couldn’t even feel if the flesh was firm, my reaching claw being a rather longer version of those toys that you win the stuffed animal from. My hand, with all the warmth and sensitivity? Would be way at the other end, making the pinchers work Some metal and plastic and magnets would be getting a feel, ooh, how erotic? Do they think I don’t know the difference? Or is it just that I could get away with it. Because, probably, a time or two? I could, if I never looked the man in the face. But I like their faces, too, and it’s not like talking to them is not awkward enough without the props or without worrying about whether he knows me or some antic as the Wheeled Groper.