A Time To Sleep

Chapter 1

The ice hit the plastic designer crystal glass with a dull flat thud, an almost full bottle of a much needed spirit was held inches above the rim of the glass and poured as the count began.
"One...Two...Three." The slight up and down motion of the bottle raised a little bit higher as each number was said.
"That should do it." As she topped it off with coke with a shaking hand.
It would soon turn to be a very restless night for Skyler Adams. A storm moving in from the west knocked out the power in her small efficiency one bedroom apartment. Nervously she lit candles and placed one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom and one in the living room. A huge bolt of white light, followed with an immense loud crash of thunder and perpetual hail raining down on the roof just feet above her head caused her to pace fearfully debating if she needed to climb into the bathtub and brace herself to go flying off somewhere over the rainbow. Not even the soft flickering light coming from her warm vanilla scented candles would give her any comfort tonight.
"I can do this" she repeats to herself as if those four words are somehow magic and will cause the frightful storm to just disappear.
"It's just a little rain. Right Milo?"
Milo instantly gave his all too famous tilt of the head one ear standing at attention look and Skyler melted. Milo was Skyler's most prized possession. A beautiful silver haired yorkie given to her by her mother the day she left her estranged husband Mack and moved into her cozy little apartment. Her mother just couldn't bare the thought of her "baby girl" being alone so she insisted Skyler take Milo. Skyler wasn't exactly thrilled at the thought of being responsible for a dog when she could barely take care of herself but Milo melted her the very first night.
"Oh Milo, I hate storms!" she said as she sat on the sofa and took that first long slow sip of a slightly stronger than usual crown and coke.
"Mmmm, This night the stronger the better." she said as she shook her head, licked her lips and slapped her thigh motioning for Milo to come to her, Milo didn't hesitate. Eagerly he claimed his spot on Skyler’s lap and jumped up to flood her with kisses.
Ever since she was a child she feared storms. One would think that after 28 years a person would be use to them. But there was just something about the brutal strength of mother nature and its unmerciful force that made relaxation a near impossible feat and this night would be no different.

**Still Unfinished**

Reviews

[Pete Peterson]

Janet, You obviously have a quite good way with the written word. You convey a scene very well. Your first chapter has a lot going for it, and in it. What I see is a recently-divorced young woman with mother issues, who drinks a bit too much, struggles to put her life back together again in a small apartment with a dog as her trusted companion. A storm has hit, possibly a metaphor of Skyler's life. The dog Milo, perhaps serves as a metaphor for the security Skyler desires. I didn't quite get your opening sentence the first time I read it; Skyler drops ice cubes into a glass. Perhaps this is an unwise action since the storm has knocked out the electricity. Maybe you would want to give your reader a hint that this is not good. She also puts candles in three rooms, two which are not needed. If you are trying to show Skyler is a bit scatter-brained, you're successful.Perhaps you'd like to build on that? By the same token, I'm not sure her emotions or mental state at this time. It seems booze is the most important thing to her right now, and we don't have any hints as to how long the storm will last, or what resources or supplies Skyler has, or her occupation, or where she lives. These could all be cleared up easily. In any case, I enjoyed what I read, and hope you write more about this since it could be an intriguing and memorable story. Keep on keeping on.

[janetd]

Thank you...Once again I am new to this and ALL suggestions are appreciated. The booze is to calm the nerves because of the storm (as I pointed out it was an almost full bottle), the candles in 3 rooms simply because that's what I would do if the lights went out during a storm. And the rest is still a long work in progress :) Again thank you for your review and suggestions :)

[Miss Sharon]

I really like this story and look forward to reading it when it is finished! (Me and my little Corgi hate storms too...especially the thunder!) ~Sharon

[janetd]

Thank you very much for your kind review. I am really new to this so all the encouragement helps. :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Great story. I liked your imagery and feeling conveyed throughout. You limned everything to be expected between the who, when, where and why. Tyfs!

[janetd]

Thank you for your kind review! I am new to this so it really means a lot to have this type of response. :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

You're most welcome! Keep up the great work!

[Bianca Goudeau]

I love they way you are with your words this is my first story I have read and I really enjoyed it

[janetd]

Thank you SO much! That really means a lot because this is the first time I have written something other than poems :)

[Bianca Goudeau]

U welcome maybe wf can learn from one another

[janetd]

Sounds like a great plan to me :)