DWARFED is a YA manuscript featuring 16 year old Grace, who temporarily finds herself living on a working hog farm in Michigan where she feels . Grace has a big heart and a stubborn nature. She also has a genetic condition called achondroplasi a dwarfisam.
I
shield my eyes from the brutal glare of the sun, and study the sparkling water.
There’s no sign of my duck.
A
flash of movement grabs my attention, and I watch a black feather cartwheel
into the gelatinous debris. Trepidation curls my toes and bile fills my throat. The grounds sprinkled with a liberal layer of
black feathers. Adelaide’s feathers.
I
can’t believe I didn’t see them sooner.
Adelaide
molts but she’s never lost this much of her plumage at one time. I pick up a feather. Blood transfers from the
quill to my fingertips.
OH NO! To be expected in life on a farm I imagine. I liked the imagery. I'll be back next week. I've been following along on this one.
ReplyDeleteOh Nooo! Adelaide!
ReplyDeleteYou know, this is a good dose of reality. Farm life is tough. It's hard to have a soft heart and live in a place where animals living and dying is part of the program.
Good eight, Jess. Nice, rich details.
Oh no! (Looks like that's everyone's reaction!) Great job on the description and details. I hope it's not as bad as it looks--and I really could see it. Maybe just an injury? Crossing my fingers until next Sunday.
ReplyDelete~Joyce Scarbrough
Reality sucks. Great snippet.
ReplyDeleteI gasped when I read about all the feathers! I thought, *darn* is Jess going to tease us with introducing Adelaide only to snuff her out before we even get to meet her?! But then I realized, life with animals is like that, and this isn't the kind of story to sugar-coat life.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe Adelaide wins a reprieve! I still hope to meet her :D :D
Oh no! Poor Adelaide! Great descriptive passage, Jess.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever been this attached to a duck! Oh no...I fear next week's post but will certainly be back to check on poor Adelaide! My guts are in a knot.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I hope it's not anything horrible. Made a lump form in my throat. But I want to find out. Really nice writing and very vivid. :-)
ReplyDeleteUh oh, I'm on edge now. I HOPE the duck is ok but seems doubtful. I can;t wait for next week! Terrific snippet!
ReplyDeleteOh no, poor Adelaide! It doesn't seem possible, but I hope she somehow survived! Great snippet! :)
ReplyDeletePoor Adelaide! Beautiful description, though. I love the build up to her picking up the bloody feather. Very tense and emotional.
ReplyDeleteOh no-- blood. This cannot be good. So emotional- I got chills.
ReplyDeleteWild predator? I've lost ducks to owls and (wild) ferrets. They were never pets, though.
ReplyDeleteBlood? That says it all! Wonder what attacked the duck? Good snippet.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad over this. Really good job conveying emotion and sympathy for this duck.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to make me cry! No, not the duck. You pulled at my heart strings in just this little snippet. Well done.
ReplyDeleteNo! What happened? A fight? Is she maybe ok and just missing a lot of feathers? I'll be back next week for answers and you better post them, young lady! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh no!!! You can't stop there! Oh, geez, you're making me cry. Seriously. Oh, tell me her poor duck is okay...
ReplyDeleteI think Adelaide is one dead duck. Spooky snippet, Jess. :)
ReplyDeleteOh no, poor Adelaide!
ReplyDeleteSounds bleak for the one with the beak and webbed feet.
ReplyDeleteEmotional snippet, well done.
Oh, no. Poor Adelaide. I hope the poor duck is all right. Not seriously injured.
ReplyDeleteI love animals and your photos. Animals have been my teachers for quite a few years. Looking forward to connecting. Found you through the 2013 A-Z Blog Challenge. As a participant in this challenge I also nominate you for the Liebster Award, find out more about your nomination at http://www.weblessyourheart.com/2013/03/31/liebster-award-i-accept/. I am looking forward to connecting with you as we both participate in the challenge this year. Cheryl
ReplyDeleteVery moving! Oh no - I feel like such a wimp when it comes to animals. I hope Adeleide is OK.
ReplyDeleteOh, no. Not good news. :(
ReplyDelete