“Lucy are you sure it’s not Friday?”
“I’m positive.”
“I guess I’ll call this my Wednesday sit-ups then.”
“Who in the world needs to name their exercises.”
“Makes them easier to do.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we saw Mike Moore, the FBI agent, organize a SWAT team to surround the house where Cortez lives. The tricky part is there are four hostages inside, and Mike doesn’t want to start a shooting war that could get them killed. He has decided to allow Cortez to surrender the hostages and give himself up. Let’s join up with Mike, Andrew, and Larry as they meet with the SWAT team.
“The names’ Moore and this is Dunfee and Cummings.”
“Agent Withers, agent Moore. What’s the situation?”
“We believe we have four hostages and probably four perps inside the house. We have a warrant for their arrest on federal kidnapping charges. The problem is we need to serve the warrant without getting the hostages killed.”
“Yeah, roger that. So you want to try some talk?”
“Yes. I need your men to surround the house, so no one gets away. I don’t want to be chasing these guys all over the state.”
“I get that. Okay, what if they don’t give up?”
“you have a standard protocol for that situation, right?”
“Yes, we do. We will keep them in place for as long as it takes. We have ways to escalate the situation but would only do that on your order.”
“I think we should wait to see what happens.”
“I agree. Okay, we will deploy around the house. Our comms are set at 360 Mh. You want to test that?”
“Okay. Can you read?”
“You are loud and clear. Keep me informed. I’m going to move out with the team.”
“Thanks, Winters.”
“Yeah. Do that when this is over.”
“Roger that. Hey Larry?”
“Yes, Mike.”
“You ever been in this kind of situation?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“Well. Let’s hope it won’t turn into something ugly. There are readers out there who want this thing to end peacefully.”
“I understand. There is also a writer out there who tends to make our lives difficult.”
“Hey, Winters?”
“Go ahead.”
“You guys in place?”
“Give us three more minutes. I’ll give you a shout when we are ready.”
“Roger. Okay, Larry, once those guys are in place, we will move closer to the house. I think we’ll take the car for cover.”
“I think that’s a good idea. You want me to drive.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll just pull up in front of the house, and we will talk from the opposite side of the car.”
“Winters to Moore.”
“Go ahead, Winters.”
“We have the place surrounded. There is a back door and a sliding door off the patio. We have a clear view of the entire back. We don’t see any movement in the house.”
“Thank you, Winters. We are pulling up in front. I’m going to block the drive.”
“My guys are directly across the street. The drive will be perfect. We can keep tabs on you in case a firefight starts.”
“Somehow, that is not as comforting as you probably wanted it to be. We have pulled up in front. We are getting out of the car. Moore out.”
“So, do you have a megaphone?”
“Just so happens I do. It’s in the trunk.”
“Be careful.”
“Be right back.”
“Crap Andrew. What was that?”
“A shot, Larry. Looks like Moore got hit.”
“Stay here. I’m going after him. Mike, you okay?”
“Damnit, Larry. Some stupid son-of-a-bitch shot me. Winters, Moore here. I’ve been shot. Hold your fire and position. I’m giving the comm to Dunfee.”
“You okay, Mike.”
“I am for the moment. What a stupid thing to do. These guys must be really stupid. Here take this megaphone and tell them they are surrounded. Tell ‘em the agent they shot is okay and to lay down their weapons and come out. If they do, no one will get hurt.”
“Andrew. Get over here and take care of Mike. I’m not sure how badly he’s hurt. His Mouth is working okay for now. Okay, Mike, you are going to be okay. Andrew is a doctor.”
“There is a first aid kit in the trunk as well.”
“Okay, we got this. You take it easy. ATTENTION YOU IN THE HOUSE. WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED. THIS IS THE FBI. THE AGEN YOU SHOT IS OKAY. SURRENDER NOW, AND NO ONE GET’S HURT.”
Fiction Favorites 
So, who will win: the writer or the readers? My money is on the writer – he’s the only one with skin in the game (whatever that means).
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Might mean the writer has the keyboard. 😊
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Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword clearly hadn’t tangled with a keyboard!
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I would take a conk from a Waterman over a Dell anyway.
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⌨️🤪
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😊
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Darn those cruel writers!
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Dang ’em.
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Love the 4th wall break.
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As do I!
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Thank Liz. Charles taught me about the 4th wall.
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You’re welcome, John! You do breaking the 4th wall very well by not overdoing it.
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Just once in a while and then off to something else.
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🙂
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Learned that from you. 😁
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Glad to be of service.
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😁
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I love the Twiggy pose. (I think she’s just pretending to be exercising.)
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She was doing a major back scratch and roll around. Yes you are right.
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Dogs can be so entertaining to watch.
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Yes they can. Thanks, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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I don’t trust those people in the house, or that writer. The agent might be okay, but I am deeply suspicious and worried about the hostages and our two wannabe heroes. See you next week, John, in the driveway where we left off.
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Yes, i’ll be there, Dan. I woner if Mike is going to make it.
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Just remember it is easier to thicken soup than to thicken a plot. And both involve stirring and twists. Though some of those unexpected twists can cause writers strain. The first aid kit is in the trunk. The other first aid kit is in the bottle. For internal use only…
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Yes, lets not break the bottle,
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A 4th wall break, too? What hasn’t this story included? I love it and got a laugh out of that.
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This is called a kitchen sink serial. Thanks, Craig.
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Ha!
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😊
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Twiggy names her exercises too? High paw to her.
Welp, Sheriff . . you scaled the wall with ease and of course, we are the hostages who will most certainly do as you tell us to do. We’ve developed a slightly irrational relationship with you, but that’s okay because you keep us thoroughly entertained. And really, it’s as much as you can ask if you’re going to be a hostage. No complaints here.
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I like the no complaint part of the reader role. Here, have a margarita while you wait.
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I know better than to mess with the Boss.
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Hahahaha. Thanks, Marc for the laugh.
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De Bada Bing
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😊
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I gotta say I let out a guffaw when I saw Twiggy! Gotta love her!
Mike’ll be fine and then… and then… sigh. We wait for next week!
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Yes, next week. I can’t believe someone took a shot at the team. Pretty dumb I would say.
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Very dumb! Just plain asking for trouble! 🙂
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Yes indeed.
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🙂
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Oh, how wonderful, dear John! Twiggy’s yoga training is gorgeous! Might Friday see her! 🙂
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Thank you, Maria. I think Friday may be on the look out.
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😁😁😁
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Twiggy does all for Friday to notice her!
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She does for sure. 😁
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Of course Mike’ll be fine, Larry was just sarcastic about him. That’s a writer’s rule isn’t it? You can’t die while someone is sarcastic about you.. You have to be able to do it back. Well, see you next week John and find out if the hostages are OK.
Hugs
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I think you are right. You are never sarcastic with a guy who’s not going to make it. Thanks, David.
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Way to ramp up the tension, John. Terrific episode.
Hugs on the wing.
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Thank you, Teagan.
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I love it when the characters start talking about the writer.🤣
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Yes. It is fun sometimes. Thanks, Pete.
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Perhaps it’s just the fact that it’s 4:00 a.m. and I’m slap-happy, but I found some humour here … first in the part about the readers and the writer, but then … when Mike said “these guys must be really stupid” … I literally laughed out loud! Who’s the one who got shot for walking to his trunk? And who’s the one who’s been chasing these guys for … how long now? Loved it, John … and frankly, I was surprised, for I expected the house to be empty. Now, the question is … who wins this battle? My money was once on Larry, Andrew, et al, but anymore I’m not so sure. Hanging on, chewing my fingernails again!
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Empty was on option but we need to come to closure on this whole situation. Thanks, Jill.
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OH NO!!! If there is closure … then what will I have left to look forward to on Wednesdays??? Or … do you have a new adventure for Andrew and Larry up your sleeve?
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There are always more stories. 😊
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Feels like the endgame but I’ve been reading you long enough to know that’s certainly unlikely
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It is getting there for sure. This story is 80,000 words long and time to wrap.
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And then how will you fill your Wednesdays!?
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As a greeter at Wal-Mart.
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Ah ha! So you will be packing still…
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Got my 9mm right here.
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The terrifying thing for me as a gunophobe Brit is wondering if that is actually true…
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No. I was broadly mocking the belief that everyone in the US has a gun. I’m like you.
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I had to laugh at the pic. Bond lays around just like Twiggy, lol. Maybe Twiggy was a cat in a previous life.
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She also sits on the back of the couch so maybe. 😁
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I’m glad his mouth is still working. And let’s hope the readers get a good ending. The writer has put in a cliffhanger. See you in the driveway next week.
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I’ll be there, Jennie. Thanks. 😁
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Thank goodness! 😀
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😁
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Still playing catch-up (A game I never seem to win.) I love the bit you threw into the dialogue about readers and writers. 🙂 The tension mounts! Hopefully, this has an ending that brings these jerks to justice!!
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Let’s hope so. Thank you, Jan. 😁
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I do hope no one gets hurt, but I have a feeling the writer may have other plans!
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Yeah that guy has no mercy. 😁
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