A few months back I joined the Enid Writers’ Club. It has really provided some motivation and encouragement for the writing of the next Fr. Anthony novel. As part of each meeting, there is a Roll Call where each member reads a piece of 150 words or less based on a given topic prompt. The prompt for this month: Have one of your characters or poems give you writing advice. Everyone reads and everyone votes. This month I tied for the prize and I’m beaming like a little kid who won the hot dog eating contest.
Father Anthony climbed the stairs to the top of the bell tower, more than a hundred feet up. The wall surrounding the uppermost landing was only eighteen inches, so he always stood at a safe distance.
“Hey, what are we doing up here?”
Unbeknownst to Father Anthony, Elvis, the custodian had eaten his lunch on the landing and had accidentally left a banana peel lying directly in Father Anthony’s path. Had Father Anthony been more observant, he would have seen it and been more careful.
“What do you mean, ‘More observant’? I see it. It’s right there.”
Father Anthony took the last step of his life.
“Wait! What do you mean the last step of my life?! Look! Is this about the plot hole in the last chapter? I can fix that. I’m your main character! You can’t kill me.”
He slipped. He fell.
“You son of aaaaaaaa…..”
He died.
Fear not. Fr. Anthony is a bit fluffy these days and simply bounced around, eventually landing on his feet.
Candle in a Cave 