Chapter Two | Kittens and Cupcakes Writing Challenge

Hey! I was tagged by June for this. The idea is that a whole bunch of different bloggers work together to write one story - each of them writing and posting their own chapter. It's wonderful, isn't it?
Firstly, I want to tell you where you can find the first chapter, written by June.
Wanna follow this story?
Find June's amazing chapter 1 here,
and Madeline's brilliant chapter 3 here.

So. Bree from Introducing Inspiration has created this lovely tag in which everyone takes turns to write a chapter, adding on to the previous one. June's chapter was amazing.
I'm gonna post the rules, but I suggest you pop over to Bree's original post, here, on this writing challenge, to really understand how this all works.

Rules:

1. If you agree to doing this challenge after being tagged, continue on the next chapter of the story (chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, etc.). And tag the previous chapters.

2. Write the chapter, incorporating the challenge words and situations.

3. If you would rather not do it, pass it onto someone - but if you aren't going to do it, don't add your own challenges.

4. After writing your chapter, tag someone else and state your own challenges.

5. Add the picture above your post. (optional)
///

The next person I tag is Madeline, from In The Wind. I'm pretty sure that her blog was called In The Wind because of this reason: her writing blows me away. I'm sure if you pop over there and check it out, you'll be blown away as well.

The challenges I received to write this chapter:

Gratefulness
Former
Raven
Caught___ing
"I finally got to __"

My challenges for the next writer of the next chapter:

Include the words:

Galaxy

Friendly
Wild
Tears

Situations:

An accident

Here is my chapter:

CHAPTER TWO

I found the second note in the same place.
This time,

I know your secret, Emily. I know what you did.

I could not say that I was not intimidated after I read those words. Because, whoever this was, they knew my real name. The one I had begged my parents to allow me to change for months, before they finally gave in and let me. I finally got to get rid of Emily, and Francesca was born.
So how much more did this person know about me? About my life?

I was only nine when I changed my name. But I knew it was what I wanted.
Right after I became Francesca, I worked hard to lose all of my old friends, to hang out at different places, to build up the new character I wanted to be by the time I got to high school, where no one would ever know me as Emily. I was determined to be one of ‘popular’ girls, and now I was. No one at my high school had the faintest idea that I had ever swapped boring, plain, naïve Emily for flashy, glamorous, sassy Francesca.
I didn't even have any grandparents, let alone cousins and aunts and uncles.
My mom had died when I was eleven, and when my dad married again, we never told my step mom. Only my dad knew.

At least that was what I had thought. Until now.

-

-

-

My head was throbbing as I walked along the pavement. All the thoughts, swimming in my brain like fish in a pond. What was going on? Who was stalking me? 

Surely it had to be one of my former friends.

Stop! It’s nothing to worry about, Francesca. Just keep your cool.
Somehow calling myself Francesca in my head gave me comfort.

I let out a deep breath. I tipped my head to the sky, where I saw a raven in flight. Or was that a crow? I couldn't really tell.
I kicked an empty Coke can. I brushed a piece of my blonde hair behind my ear. I stopped. I looked down at my All Star sneakers. The right shoe had a splash of Coke on the tip – it appeared the can wasn’t empty. I sighed, slowly. I carried on walking.
Everything felt so surreal.

I finally got home, after the twenty minute walk that seemed to take forever. I went straight to the fridge to find a sugar free soft drink.
From the kitchen I could hear my step mom, Greta, ranting about something to my dad. I caught a few of her words.
“I’m just telling you, you should teach her something about gratefulness!” she was saying.
And my dad’s answer, steady as always, “Of course, dear.”

Greta came into the kitchen. She turned and caught me giving her a fake, sweet smile. She frowned and shook her head. Then she left to go to her den, her room, with a bar of chocolate.

I took my drink and went to my own room, where I flopped down on my bed.
I won’t be coming downstairs for supper. Besides, it’s probably leftovers or takeaways again, since our maid, Ella, is out tonight, and Greta can’t cook to save her life.

I fell asleep almost straight away.

_____

Thanks for reading. :)

Note to June: I hope you don't mind, but with your challenges, I compromised a wee bit. Do you think it's okay? I have put where I used the challenges in underlining. They're not exactly right, but, like I said, I compromised a little...is it fine?

{I Am} ~ Entry For Bethan's Challenge

{my pic}

The sand is warm between my toes, and I dig my feet in deeper, into the unbelievable softness of shells that have been crushed and ground up by the mighty sea. 

The ocean is blue, so blue...the white foam tumbles onto the shore and then slowly fades as it sinks back into the rolling waters.

The sun is shining, bright and hot. My back is heated from it's rays, and the warmth seeps into me, filling me. Now and then I try and look it in the face, but it is too bright, and instead I let it stare down at me, while I meekly look away.

 There are only a few clouds, white and puffy against the saturated, bold sky. They are beds for sky dolphins - or at least, in my imagination, they are.

A few kids kick around a soccer ball, racing, laughing, teasing. Others swim in the water, splashing at each other and screeching.

And I just sit. I sit on the white, shimmery sand and bury my feet in it.

But I am awake. I am alive. I am alert. I can hear everything, see everything, feel everything around me. My senses feel as though they are breathing, breathing in the world. I'm picking up everything that is going on around me...but I'm not.

I put a lock of hair behind my ear. I'm just a girl, a soul, a living thing, a human being.
And in one small moment,
everything is so simple.

I belong.

I'm alive.

I'm free.

I'm me.

My heart beats steady against my chest, as if it wants to be let out. I remember one of my favorite quotes; 'Hearts are wild creatures, that's why our ribs are cages.'

So it keeps on thumping.
The waves roar.
The sun burns.
The clouds drift.
The children play
I sit.

And just for a few minutes...

...all I do...
...is be.
I am.

~~~

{Quote credit to Clayton Steele}

So, what did you think of that? I'm entering it in Bethan's writing challenge.

Before I sign off, I have something to say...
I'm really sorry that I've barely been blogging, I've barely been answering comments, I've barely being designing blogs (to those on the waiting list, I am sorry, but I WILL get there, I will), and I've barely been alive in the blogging world.
Life gets hectically busy, and I freak out. I ask God all the time, 'How will I cope? How do I get it all done?'. But He has been so good, and He has guided me.
Anyway, hopefully, I'll be around a bit more often soon, people.
Thank you for reading. ♥

the winners of my July writing challenge are...

Thank you so much to those who entered my writing challenge! You're too kind. :) And all of the entries were lovely.

But...

The winner is...

Madeline with her entry, 'Her Soul was Alight'.

I found it so beautiful, and so true about a lot of people I know, people who encourage me and make me feel like my soul could be alight like theirs.

In second place, it's...

Eve with her entry, 'Ferris Wheel of Life'.

I really loved that, Eve. Your writing was wonderful, and I congratulate you.

Now, there are two other entries that I loved...I was sad that I was only supposed to choose too winners...but here's a shout out to two others:

Melody's entry,

and

Bethan's entry-

were both absolutely lovely.

Thanks, again, to everyone who entered. ♥

Writing Challenge of July, 2014

So...guess who just hit seventy followers?

I thank each and every one of them. ♥♥♥ I'm thrilled. Although I used to have over 140 on my other blog...I'm still glad that I moved blogs. A lot of things worked when they hadn't before.

Now. I remember my promise. I said I'd create a writing challenge when I got to seventy followers, and so, here it is.

Anyone of any age can enter, I'd love it if everyone of my followers entered, but, sadly, I know that won't happen.

Here are the guidelines (there is no prize but glory and congratulations, sorry):

1. You can write anything, really; a chapter, a poem, a haiku, a short story, a song, even a quote (of your own, of course) if you like. A devotion is also acceptable.

2. All entries must be in before or on Wednesday the 30th of July, 2014. But after the 30th, I won't be taking anymore entries.

3. I'll announce the winner and the runner up (second place) on Thursday the 31st of June.

4. I'll be choosing the winner, which means, no random selection, and no poll.

5. Have fun. Be creative. Let your (as some people say) inner self flow. I hope that if you do enter, you enjoy writing for this challenge.

6. You are welcome to use a picture of your own or from Pinterest, as long as you give credit and link back.
8. To enter, post your link in a comment. (The link of the post that contains your entry, on your blog)

Oh, and, maybe you wouldn't mind putting the button below on your sidebar (if you're entering)? I would so love it if you did.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://tangerinetane.blogspot.com/2014/07/writing-challenge-of-july-2014.html" title="Fifth out of Ten Writing Challenge" target="_blank"><img src="http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab220/TangerineTane/fifthoutoftenwritingchallengebutton_zpsa1e9c505.jpg" alt="Fifth out of Ten Writing Challenge" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

You can also get the code from my sidebar.

Thank you so much for reading this. I can't wait to (hopefully) receive entries...

// EDIT //
The entries so far:

You Were There + by Jemma
Melody's Entry
Her Soul Was Alight + by Madeline
Bethan's Entry
Eve's Entry
Jollygirl's Entry
Azia's Entry
and
Ghostcaller's Entry

there is a creator // poem entry for Hannah's challenge

Image is my own.

do you see

the patterns on those leaves

and how softly

a newborn breathes

do you see

how gently the wind blows

and how strong

the ocean waves roll

do you see

the star that twinkles most

and the way

the bold moon glows

do you see 

those big oak trees swaying 

and do you see

those young ones playing

do you see

the light coming through the trees

or the darkness

where the shadows play and tease

do you see

her eyes close with sleep

and do you see

her lashes touch her cheek

because I see-
and I can bet,
there is indeed
a creator yet.

//

That...was a poem that I am entering in Hannah's challenge. Click HERE to read about it and visit her blog...she's a really lovely gal. You should enter, if you're up to it. ♥
So what did you think?
I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday, as I am.

P.S.: Why don't you go check out Friendship Through Faith? It's a blog I am busy designing - a blog by a friend of mine, Jemma. She's wonderful and so is her blog. Perhaps you'll follow? And, maybe, tell me what you think of the design? ♥

Entry for Eve's writing contest // Go Somewhere

[VIA. Not my own image]

Let’s leave right now, just you and me
I don’t know where we’re going
Guess we’ll have to just wait and see
So let’s grab the car keys

We can drive with the window down
Let the fresh air in and feel the wind blow
We can go from town to town
I don’t know where we’ll go but I want to go

Let’s get in the car,
Drive to some place far
‘Cause I need to get away for awhile
Need to feel the return of a smile

You can hold the pedal down
We can sit back and listen to the engine roar
I’ll put some music on
The kind that sends shivers to your core

Starting now I want to go somewhere
As long as it’s not here I don’t care

Let’s leave right now, just you and me
Let’s get in the car
and go someplace far

‘Cause I long to explore
I want my life to be so much more
Then what it was before
I’m hungry to taste a new world
and I want you to come as well

It’s not that I don’t like this place
I guess you could say it’s a desperate case
I just want to see things I haven’t seen
and go to all the places I haven’t been

Starting now I want to go somewhere
As long as it's not here I really don't care

Author's note: Hmm...my conclusion is that this poem is about wanderlust. I didn't know till now, I just let it take me where it wanted to.

Hey guys! I know I said I'm meant to be really busy with packing up and stuff, but I decided I would enter Eve's writing contest with this (two days till the deadline!).

Oh, and, Eve's contest is awesome. You should check it out and enter. Thanks for hosting it, Eve. :)

Thank you so much for reading, it means a lot to me. Love all of my followers! What do you think of my entry? I was slightly disappointed with the way it turned out, but I don't have much time to write another one now, so, here goes...

Postscript: Hello June! What do you mean to me? Well, since I live in South Africa, Somerset-West, you mean cold, windy, and wet as Winter begins. Preparing myself. I love you but I somehow find myself dreaming about December or January whenever you come around...strange thing is that I wish for you when they are around. ♥
(You may be slightly confused, person who is reading this postscript...well, only if you're American. But anyway, most of you probably already know, that when it's your Summer time, it's my Winter time.)