Friday, April 27, 2012

Write On Edge: Core Challenge


This week's Red Writing Hood  challenge gives us 450 words to explore in fiction or creative non-fiction, any meaning of the word Core:

core
noun
1 the earth’s core: center, interior, middle, nucleus; recesses, bowels, depths; informal innards; literary midst.
2 the core of the argument: heart, heart of the matter, nucleus, nub, kernel, marrow, meat, essence, quintessence, crux, gist, pith, substance, basis, fundamentals; informal nitty-gritty, brass tacks, nuts and bolts.
adjective
the core issue: central, key, basic, fundamental, principal, primary, main, chief, crucial, vital, essential; informal number-one. ANTONYMS peripheral.


For this prompt, I felt compelled to return to my main character from last week's challenge titled Fairytale Ended. I wanted to give Tracy a little closure.

I offer the following in response: A Poisoned Apple



Morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting lacey shadows on the earth, as Tracy reached her intended destination. The secluded orchard aged quietly, nestled in the hollow; a labyrinthine haven from the ills of life. As a child, she scampered about the uniform apple trees like a sprite among sentinels, unaware of passing time. These trees had a way of leeching troubles from her soul.

She brought Kevin here last summer to share with him her most treasured patch of sacred ground. Blinded by passion, she failed to notice the warning signs. Marry me. It wasn’t a question. Kevin commanded her heart like a master puppeteer, twisting the strings to his own ends. She shut her eyes tight as if to drown his betrayal in darkness. She wanted to see her beloved apple trees cleansed of his taint.

“Tracy,” exclaimed an earthy, familiar voice. “Never expected to see you again after you brought that feller around.”

“You know I can’t stay away from this place for long, Appleginny,” she replied, opening her eyes eagerly. Ginny was older than Tracy remembered, shriveled like an apple-doll baked by the sun. The woman was the wizened recluse that every mountain community told tall tales of. Locals called her the Apple Whisperer or sometimes Ginny Appleseed but never with malice. The superstitious still believed in hexes.

Dark eyes narrowed. “He stripped some innocence from you, didn’t he?” Ginny soothsaid finally, hobbling closer. “I knowed that boy had Watercore through to the peel the moment I met him. These apples have it too, sadly. One rotten apple, maybe he spoiled the bunch.”

“Watercore?”

Appleginny reached up with her cane, skillfully knocking a Braeburn into her practiced hand. “Looks flawless from the outside, eh?” She pulled the Swiss Army styled garden tool from her belt and halved the apple with its blade. Glassy white flesh was scarred by a brown sunburst at its epicenter. “But the inside…”

“But the inside…” Tracy repeated, the painful recollection of her ruined wedding bubbling to the surface.

“Severely deficient,” the woman smiled wryly. “Not that it’s a lost cause for eatin’, mind, just an acquired taste. Oft makes them alkyholic tastin’. Some folks’ll even covet them, callin’ them Honeyed Apples. I’ll use them for applejack, not much else.”

“Is there a cure?” Tracy asked, hopefully.

“Watercore‘s brought about by too much nitrogen poisoning the soil. Suffocates the fruit. Easy fix for next year’s crop with a bit of time, sweat and good fertilizer.” Her smile faded. “In humans, though, the cure’s not as straightforward. Best you leave that feller for thems what has a taste for it, eh?” She tossed the halves unceremoniously to the ground. “Scavengers need food too.”

30 comments:

  1. I really like how her passion with applesis a theme. The beginning paragraphs settles me in for her unique character.

    I love your writing

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    1. Thanks! I loved the idea of Appleginny. I think all small towns have someone like her or have stories of someone like her. And thanks for the love!

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  2. What a beautiful way of teaching a lesson, or maybe reiterating a lesson already painfully learnt in the school of hardknocks. I love your descriptions of the orchard and its effects on the soul, a magical place indeed. But Tracy or Tracey? :)

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    1. Oops! Good catch! I guess I shouldn't work on things at 2am eh? :)

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  3. Oh, I LOVE this! Nice job with the layering of fairy tale, contemporary heartache and agriculture. So well done!

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    1. Thanks for the love! I'm thrilled this worked so well. As always, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  4. I agree entirely with the other comments expressing how creative and effective Appleginny was as a character. Anything folklore-esque instantly intrigues me. I also love orchards as a setting, so this caught me immediately.

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    1. Thanks for the feedback. Appleginny was a fun write. Thanks again for stopping by!

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  5. I'm glad you continued that story. The parallels you drew were beautifully done - straight forward but shown, not told.

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    1. I'm thrilled this protag and her situation work for you. I have to get her some happy times soon. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  6. Appleginny is a fantastic character. I like the way she easily weaves Tracy's heartache into a lesson taught by the apples, both offering comfort and letting Tracy know that some people just aren't compatible.

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    1. Appleginny was so fun to write, I'm thrilled that she worked. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

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  7. Whimsical yet poignant. Enjoyed the flow of your writing. The details of the orchard were wonderfully done.

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and giving feedback. I'm happy you enjoyed your visit!

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  8. this was beautifully done, and so detailed. I could hear some familiarity in the main character's nickname, a form of what others call Ginny. And I could see her take the tool and cut the apple open, and feel your character's understanding dawning with Ginny's explanation. Pain. Really good writing!!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I'm thrilled the scene worked. Thanks again!

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  9. Nicely done! As with everyone else, I'm loving Ginny. A magical personality at the very least.

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the read! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts

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  10. The character of Ginny is very well done--personable, mysterious, and obviously quite wise. Were you going for an archetypal character?

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    1. Yup that's what I was going for.I'm thriled you enjoyed her. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

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  11. Folk wisdom and wise (a white woman of the Appalachians?) women are a great backdrop, and I love Appleginny. She's magic. The last gesture, tossing the halved apple to the ground? Well done.

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    1. Thanks! Appalachia has always been a draw for me. I love the culture and the tales and the music. Ginny wqs truly a joy to write. Thanks for stoping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  12. Seems like we both decided to conitnue our thoughts from last week.

    I always enjoy stories that have quirky characters which is exactly how I would decribe Appleginny. Her critism of the fiance and her watercore explanation were genius.

    So glad to have the opportunity to read your writings. Great job!

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    1. Quirky is an excellent word, and it fits. Thank you folr stopping by and sharing your thoughts. You are always welcome here.

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  13. Lovely post. The first paragraph is exquisite. I also like that you incorporated Appleginny's linguistic quirks without being distracting.

    One bit of concrit in the first sentence--the words, "intended destination" pull me out of the building image of the orchard.

    The conclusion was spot on--drop him and don't look back!

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    1. Thank for letting me know what worked and what didn't. I appreciate it. I'm thrilled you stopped by and shared your thoughts!

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  14. I really loved this piece. The Appleginny character is new to me and I found her absolutely fascinating. Well done!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I'm thrilled you enjoyed your stay!

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  15. This is lovely, sad but lovely and very well written. Good job

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I'm thrilled you liked it!

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