Today is a writing prompt kind of day. So, your assignment, if you choose to accept, is to write a short sky diving blurb from the view point of the diver's faulty parachute. It doesn't have to be long, just a paragraph or two. Have fun and post your results in the comments section. I'd love to see how many different takes we get on this.
Here's mine:
I knew the day was coming--I felt it in my seams, the fraying and wear. I just didn't know it would be so messy...and loud. Man that guy could scream. I mean, come on, really? If he was so afraid of heights, why did he jump out of a plane? Me, not a sound, well other than the rrrriiiiipppp, oh and the gushing, but that was more the air than me. I just flapped and waved goodbye till the screamer and I both died of deceleration poisoning. Somehow I think it was harder on him, but what a way to go! Yeah, gravity, he's a killer.
7 comments:
Love this!!!
Here you go:
I always enjoy the hugging part. Divers check me over, wrap me on and pull me close. Then they stand in the plane’s open doorway, take a few breaths, whisper a prayer and jump. Well, most do. Some grip the doorframe and their prayers are the most interesting – lots of promising. I always wonder how many promises are kept.
But today is different. After the hug, there’s no prayer or pause at the door, just a plunge. We hurdle through space, my diver silent, head pointed, body like a bullet. This is a pro and I love it. Excitement tingles from my seams to my straps, the wind screaming by, my diver growing more rigid.
The ground zooms toward us and I made a mental note of the distance. 2500 feet. 2300 feet. 2100 feet. This guy is mean. I hope he’s not suicidal. 2050 feet. I’m getting nervous. Oh good, he’s reaching for the cord . . . and yanking. But my innards feel wrong, tangled. They don’t pull free and swoop out as they usually do. Instead they cramp and I moan as he keeps yanking and pain fills me.
1500 feet. He’s still yanking, head turned, sweat dripping on his visor. I hurt, but writhe, trying to free the cords tangled inside. 1000 feet. Why isn’t he praying? He’s got both hands jerking the line, pulling the mess tighter. 500 feet. I’m praying hard enough for both of us. Wait. 250 feet. The trees pop out of the ground like popcorn, their branches enlarging. He’s stopped pulling. He’s hugging me tight. That's strange. I hear music. 50 feet. Flying. 10 fee—
Oh -
Ahhh.
Jonene, LOVE the part about the trees popping like popcorn. You rock! Thanks for playing. :)
I'm a parachute and I just got out of an abusive relationship. At first my diver and I had some good times but it was never enough for him. He didn't tell me he was a diving instructor until he had already bought me. Everyday, he pulled my chord until I started to fray. The altitude made me sick and he was only gaining weight. The other parachutes would always say, "it'll get better." But it didn't. One day, I decided to make my stand. He took me for another dive but when he pulled my chord, I didn't gush out and flutter in the wind. I didn't slow his fall. I didn't comfort him when he screamed and I didn't apologize when he splattered. Free at last.
Clint, I actually laughed out loud when I read that. So very funny! Thanks so much for commenting. :)
We stood on the edge ready to jump. Usually I love to fall. I love plummeting down from the plane like a rock and then when they release me we float like a cloud. Today was different. I could feel it in every seam of my fabric. The instructor was doing a tandem jump again today with a big guy. Did I mention it was a really big guy?
“this is a bad idea.” I told him. “I’m old. i can’t hold both of your weight.” The two men just went on laughing and chattering on like excited chipmunks.
“hello!? didn’t you hear me?” I shouted. “there is no way this is going to work.” still they didn’t listen. Then it was time.
“don’t worry.” I heard the instructor say. “it will be fun. Everything will be ok.” then he smiled and jumped. We plummeted all right. Faster and faster. The big guy screamed in delight. Stupid human I thought. Then the instructor pulled my cord. Out I came unfurling like a blanket of safety. But I was scared. Real scared. The air filled my chute and we slowed for a moment. Then rrrripp! Oh the pain! I felt like my fabric was on fire. The instructor looked up at me. Panic filled his eyes.
“yeah,” I thought. “not so fun now is it? I could see the ground coming closer.
Closer.
Closer.
“this is all your fault.” I yelled at the instructor but I don’t think he heard me over their screams of terror.
Oh the pain. Why did it have to end this way?
I tried to warn him. I really did. If he would have just listened to me then we would all be alive. But who would listen to me I’m just the parachute. Right!? I hate to say it but I told you so.
lol my hubby just read the stories and ask me why no one has thought to pull the emergency chute?
Marne', too funny, and maybe none of us thought about that extra chute because we've never been brave/crazy enough to leap from a plane. Hee hee.
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