does seem more like a press release. The formula for the
short story was "tweaked" for a creative writing approach
to subject matter. Although Scooter City isnt real, it
could be, it is the method as to how thoughts and ideas are
made into reality which intrigues and puzzles.
I wanted to do more than recreate the same predictable
story line found in most of my short stories to date. It is
a departure from my usual weekly offerings.
In creative story writing, the sky is the limit, and I
tried to break out of my usual pattern of how to write a
story. The next installment may include more plot and
character detail.
Writing one short story a week in the Ray Bradbury writer's
workshop (as seen in Mike's Writing Workshop blog
www.mikeswritingworkshopblogspot.com (reblog) means I will
have fifty-two short stories in one year.
Were you disappointed with the lack of character and plot
development, and the fact it was a starchy travelogue or
housing development advertisement? Just working on
concepts, that hopefully may turn into something real
someday. It is the power of the written word! Again, thank
-you Paige most humbly for your opinions and criticism
which I always find helpful!Jane Jones
mikeswritingworkshop@yahoogroups.com, Paige Cummings
>
> You said this was s short story, but it really reads more
like a press
> release. While there was a beginning, a middle and an
end, there
> wasn't a plot.
>
> It also overemphasized telling and not showing.
>
> On Jun 1, 2009, at 2:13 PM, jannneee2121 wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Scooter City
> >
> > "Oh this is the best, Mom!" the five year old scooter
kid blasted
> > out loud as he went speeding around the maze of paths
in the verdant
> > gardened scooter city haven. "Don, I have never seen
him look so
> > happy" the beaming mom spoke with uttermost sincerity
to her
> > husband. "Yes, dear, I'm so happy we have found this
wonderful place
> > for Eddy. It is more than my dreams could have ever
imagined" Don
> > relieved by the beaming joy from the face of his son.
"I know this
> > is right for him, Cathy, I am certain of this!"
> >
> > Scooter City had just opened to the public. This
Saturday was the
> > official opening of the gated community for physically
challenged
> > individuals and their families made huge headlines
arounnd the
> > world. The concept of Scooter City was a brand new idea
started by a
> > couple who had dreamed that their lives would be less
complicated in
> > a place where they could be with others suffering the
same problems
> > as well as a place where they could live in peace and
comfort. That
> > was the simple idea; how much this simple idea had
blossomed into a
> > dream-come-true for the many families that would
inhabit this
> > wonderful world. A world that would push the many
boundaries many
> > physically/mentally challenged day by day had to face.
A place where
> > ease of travel, where building and spaced ergonomically
fit the
> > world of being physically challenged. A place where
people truly
> > cared about those who had for suffered for years being
delegated to
> > the backroom of life because no one had designed or
planned for the
> > unique needs of these special families.
> >
> > The challenge would be for all communities worldwide to
get onboard
> > the ground floor and enjoy the many accomplishments and
successes of
> > the scooter community. The enlightened city planners
conceived of
> > the ideal, now it was made reality in Scooter City.
This new place
> > incorporated all the best of human idealisms and the
belief that
> > "what you can dream you can be" Walt Disney's motto
redefined and
> > refined for the imagineers of Scooter City. A
meticulously planned
> > community were the focus would be on the specific needs
of those
> > challenged. The new buzz word of the day "overcomers".
Overcomers
> > would soon come in droves to Scooter City; "the dream
is alive here"
> > the motto thought up by the many members of Breaking
Barriers to
> > create this world and make it real for all those thus
challenged in
> > any way. All doors would forever be open, and all doors
were open to
> > all persons of all persuasions.
> >
> > Inclusivity was another buzz word; Scooter City worked
and networked
> > with millions of scoots worldwide to create the best of
all possible
> > worlds for scoots. Many blogs and websites were
designed to attract
> > all those interested in the creation of this dream and
idealized
> > world for the Challenger Scoots, or CJ's for Challenger
Joe's Scoots
> > a name and a new restaurant at Scooter City. The new
handle chosen
> > by vote by all those in attendance and by online voting
at the
> > Challenger Network. Scoots had the right stuff in the
Scooter City,
> > and because the Board of Directors were all scoots, it
would stay
> > that way. A wonderful day for all scoots! Ultimately,
Scooter City
> > would change the way the world would view the
physically challenged,
> > those with various physical and mental needs making it
much more
> > user-friendly for the CJ's.
> >
> > The needs had been great for the physically and
mentally challenged
> > in the past, and now Scooter City had provided the seed
to help the
> > many challenged. The seed for the need was planted and
growing
> > fabulously well. Due to many wonderful and insightful
people, the
> > many mentors worldwide who had used Scooter City as a
flagship and
> > universal design, the proto type city was realized and
now revealed
> > to the public at large.
> >
> > The template for future expansion and refined deign and
other
> > improvements would prove to be a unique challenge on
its own, and
> > entire companies were set up for this purpose. Scooter
City had been
> > incorporated into a worldwide consortium; an
international
> > corporation with only the best corporate individuals
hired for the
> > positions. The unique concepts and idealisms of this
new design
> > project would entrench the rights the grass roots
movements. The
> > Mission Statement of Scooter City always kept the
bottom line grass
> > roots people at the top of the hierarchial pyramid; the
democratic
> > ideals being met in the many procedural codes with "the
people"
> > always in mind, always getting first billing and
rights.
> >
> > The "children of a new day", "CJ's" and Scoots would be
lavished
> > upon, a entirely new concept for most CJ's. The rich
overflow of the
> > best life has to offer within the reach for all CJ's
because the
> > world was trying to do one better. Each country
competing with the
> > other to see how much better "served" the scoots would
be in the new
> > glistening city of ideal meeting the real. This concept
was
> > encouraged by the designers of the City soon all
country vying for
> > the attention by seeking to entice CJ's to their
country's Scooter
> > City, SC for short.
> >
> > Although not experimental, Scooter City had been been
pursued by the
> > many hardiest of designers for nearly an half-century.
The many hard-
> > earned efforts by the many visionaries made Scooter
City realized
> > much quicker than by standard business methods. Similar
to the 60's
> > Space Race, the world was competing to complete the
first Scooter
> > City prototype. This new business concept attracted
thousands to the
> > city on this wonderful June 3rd 2009. The TSC Exchange
stock SC was
> > going through the roof!
> >
> > All the best would be given to CJ's at SC, life would
be thoroughly
> > enjoyed to the fullest potential. Scooter City answered
the prayers
> > of the many church and social groups that had tried for
years to
> > make this continuing dream happen. For all persons who
required
> > these unique and special needs of the village love
made, now and for
> > all time, Scooter City would soon be a corner stone of
the community
> > at large.
> >
> > Today was a new beginning for the first fifty-eight
families who
> > would enjoy the many benefits of Scooter City. The
architects,
> > designers, engineers, and all trades people were so
very proud of
> > their accomplishments when they looked upon the
childrens' smiling
> > faces. The long term plan was nothing but expansion for
this
> > wonderful place made for, with, and by persons who just
happened to
> > be people, who, through no fault of their own, have
life threatening
> > and physical and/or mental challenges.
> >
> > Scooter City, placed on the outskirts of a medium sized
town in an
> > Ontario resort town. Surrounded by beautifully forested
and vacant
> > crown lands; abundant with unobstructed nature and
fresh air. The
> > designers worked with the natural aspects of the land
to create
> > their masterpiece; Scooter City. The wonderfully
landscaped designed
> > conceived of a place like no other. Similar to The
Secret Garden or
> > the Garden of Eden, if anyone could imagine the beauty
of this
> > incredible place. All around these richly forested
lands. There were
> > many outdoor paths, perfectly adapted to scooters, wide
enough for
> > two abreat so that scootered friends could scoot beside
one another
> > and have those important conversations on the way to
the fishing
> > pond or the theatre, a short scoot away from the main
buildings.
> >
> > The buildings were Craftsman style, designed in the
style of Frank
> > Lloyd Wright, and others always with original concepts
and totally
> > in keeping with the green needs of the new
environmental codes. The
> > beauty of Scooter City was evident everywhere in the
360 degree
> > panorama and the CAD drawings of the architects,
artists and others
> > who so richly adorned the is jewel of a place.
> >
> > Millions of downloads to the website evoked "ohs and
awes", and many
> > families were on a waiting list for the next phase of
the village
> > development. Years had gone into making this villaged
city
> > spectacular yet authentically wonderful. Without a s
over-
> > commercialization or phoney feel to the place, Scooter
City drew the
> > crowds command much media attention. It was truly the
most beautiful
> > place Eddy had ever seen, and his parents felt exactly
the same way.
> > After getting design help from tv shows like Extreme
House Makeover,
> > and by a caring and giving community, Scooter City was
begun, the
> > first shovel creating the first of many Scooter Cities
throughout
> > the world.
> >
> > It would be difficult to imagine the awe inspiring
feeling upon the
> > approach to the village. A long tree-lined roadway,
meticulously
> > gardened, with rare flowers, fountains, sculptures,
play areas, cozy
> > cafes and shoppes to interest. The waterfall was
maginicient,
> > modelled after Hawaii's unique natural beauty. After a
half-hour
> > through the winding forest, the environmental and
accessible bus
> > from town takes the passengers to the glistening City.
All roads
> > leading to the splendour in the forest; a place as
wonderful as the
> > marbled Taj Mahal or the Partheneon but mainly modelled
from the
> > magic of Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz's Emerald City.
No expense
> > was spared in the planning and implementation of this
wonderful
> > place called Scooter City.
> >
> > Meticulously thought out inch by inch, the ultimate in
efficiency
> > and function. Scooter City was enourmous, intimately
beautiful,
> > refined and yet familiar. Old fashioned and friendly,
the village
> > was similar to a town in pioneer days only upgraded a
few notches.
> > The romantic, nostalgic feel was predominant, and
everywhere one
> > could smell the wonderful oatmeal, or chocolate chip
cookies baking
> > or the peppermint candies being made or the chocolate
fudge wafting
> > into the air, catching a light breeze from the many
nostalgic shops
> > on the main street of Scooter City. There was a newnes
to just being
> > in the town which made for an exciting enlivening of
the senses and
> > made glorious with captivating fragrant scents.
> >
> > The General Store, the Community Church as well as
other quaint
> > shops and buildings were marvelous in design and
created a homey and
> > old-fashioned feeling. The backtrails had horse-drawn
carriages
> > which would take you to various areas. There were red
barns here and
> > there, and one could imagine being in Lancaster County
Pennsylvania
> > or near Listowel, Ontario. Like the Dutch Amish or old
German
> > Mennonites, there was no need for gas powered
automobiles in Scooter
> > City. Scooter City was totally self-sufficient and a
model for other
> > towns and cities to emulate. The many buildings, such
as the library
> > and post office had beautiful antique stained glass
windows in
> > abundance. Many rich woods made up the exterior and
interior with
> > use of local materials keeping the "made local" ideals
of the new
> > economy.
> >
> > The craftsmanship that went into Scooter City was
astonishing, like
> > the craftsmanship of one hundred years ago, many
woodwork pieces
> > were donated by skilled carpenters, made hand-hewn by
Mennonites and
> > Amish from St. Jacobs, Ontario. It seemed that Scooter
City brought
> > out the best in people. People willing to donate their
hard earned
> > money and time to the cause of making life easier for
those most in
> > need. It was truly a wonder to see all this coming
together, to see
> > huge amounts of donated time and money for the cause.
People were
> > networking with others and their was this amazing
spirit of
> > cooperation like had not been seen for years.
> >
> > Scooter City was a year round playground, and
accessible winter and
> > summer by greenhouse glass enclosures which enclosed
the entire
> > space. The city grew their own vegetables, had their
own farms and
> > livestock, all made possible through an intensive
voluteer network.
> > The wonderful olympic pools, glistened turquoise blue
in the
> > sunshine. There was everything fit for a king, or
queen, prince and
> > princess with many items specifically designed for the
various
> > individuals who would be using the services of the
city. There were
> > bosun seats all heavy duty lifts for scoots, always
were variant in
> > size and weight. There were fantastic cranes all
automated, computer
> > programmed for lifting paralyzed persons into and out
of the pool
> > area and comfortably back into their scooters or power
chairs, etc.
> > The pool enclosure was a saltwater pool and was
designed for the
> > various needs for physiotherapy and swimming enjoyment.
> >
> > An endless pool which is a reflective pool design very
beautiful
> > aesthetically as well as highly functionable for those
with various
> > physical needs. There were various saunas of various
kinds, both dry
> > and wet, infra red and the old fashioned stone and
steam kind of
> > cedar lined therapy rooms with eucalyptus rooms,
everything that
> > would make life worth living. Each room in the building
called the
> > Great Room looked exquisite with many enjoyable spaces,
nooks and
> > cranies, bay windows, spaces all easily accessible by
scooter. Fun
> > and imaginative rooms with refined taste and
comportment, lovely
> > plants and flowers, natural stone and wood, safe
floors,
> > communication areas, service bay for repair and
maintainance of
> > scooters, power lifts, etc.
> >
> > With all the greenery and calming feel it was difficult
to tell that
> > there were clinical areas here. The overall feel to the
place being
> > warm, friendly and inviting. Always there were the many
helpful
> > attendants. Attendants were always available to help
out, a phone
> > call away, within five minutes at any given time.
> >
> > Totally idealized world, yet made real like the
artistic landscapes
> > of Thomas Kincaide. This artist comes to mind when
thinking about
> > the feel of Scooter City. Soon a new name would be
found by the
> > residents of the city, a contest was underway as there
was always
> > interesting things to do at SC. There were movie
theatres,
> > restaurants, auditoriums, museums, guest speakers,
various health
> > modalities, and spiritual retreats for the families.
> >
> > Never a dull moment at Scooter City, scoots could
decide for
> > themselves what exactly they would like to do that
particular day.
> > More often than not they would decide to curl up by the
fireplace
> > with cocoa and tell stories or watch movies on the
plasma tv with
> > new friends. Or in the summer hang out in the verandah
or the
> > screened in porch taking in the wonderful sagey scents
of the woods
> > across the street. School was so enjoyable and the
teachers very
> > understanding of the various needs of the individual
scoots. The
> > programs were advanced and gave the scoots an edge on
the academic
> > requirements of children many grades their senior. The
teachers had
> > special skills at advancing the requirements, and the
pupils, living
> > in an ideal environment were ready, willing and more
than able
> > students. Many became teachers themselves, and many
became computer
> > and business and social leaders.
> >
> > Scoots spirits lifted as this place was made for them,
by them and
> > only them. This was their world, they owned it. No one
felt the
> > unnecessary fear they felt living in their old
communities. The
> > difference being the way they scoots were treated, with
one hundred
> > and one percent attention and the attention to
promoting the
> > individual. The attitude really made the difference in
the proven
> > success levels of the scoots. In the past the scoots
often felt they
> > were not allowed to function or be a complete person
because they
> > did not have the means to perform at maximum capacity.
Now scoots
> > would be given the ability to realize and become self-
actualized.
> > Scoots now really started to enjoy life. Life's many
goodies that
> > they so deserve were beginning to become theirs in
abundance, and
> > rightfully so, the scoots always deserved the very best
life has to
> > offer. And this the scoots did, they began to enjoy
life fully and
> > completely.
> >
> > The ease of movement was measured precisely at the city
with
> > gathering rooms large enough to contain many scooters.
Washrooms
> > were easily accessible, everything being geared towards
the needs of
> > the scoots. The unique needs of the citizens of Scooter
City were
> > always a paramount concern of the community, as
function was pivotal
> > in the scoots success. The citizenry of the city was
governed by the
> > voting system and the leaders were cj's themselves,
making many laws
> > guaranteed to further protect the citizens of the city.
No one could
> > imagine going back to live in a community without these
actualized
> > ideals. Scoots were the best promoters of the city and
word was on
> > the street; let's make all towns Scooter City-friendly!
> >
> > The gated community was very protected and the citizens
had access
> > to the nearby town if they so choose to go into town.
Many had no
> > need to go into as all their need were met at Scooter
City. There
> > were doctors, nurses, physiotherapist, social workers,
occupational
> > therapists all living within five to ten minutes of SC.
The doctor
> > offices were at the city as well, and there was really
no need for
> > going into town for groceries or other shopping, only
if the person
> > wanted a change of scenery, Scooter City provide every
known
> > provenor of goods that scoots required, and socially
Scooter City
> > was not isolated as there were shops and services only
found at
> > Scooter City. There was a cottage industry created
because of the
> > many visitors wanting unique souveigners of the Scooter
City. There
> > were wonderful weaved items, clay, woodworking shops,
all items
> > clearly high quality and unique artistry.
> > Collectors flocked to the City for the collectible
items and mny
> > products made by the scoots.
> >
> > "Oh Mommy, I love my room!" Eddy excitedly told him mom
when he
> > found his breath in the moment. For Eddy it was like
having ten
> > Christmas' at once, with every possible wished and want
present
> > under the tree. The town glistened like new fallen
snow, sparkly and
> > brand new, a crysatline dream made real. "Eddy, just
let me know
> > where you are going, if you go out" Louise stated
calmly as she sat
> > back in a luxuriously overstuffed Queen Anne chair by
the limestone
> > fireplace. "Oh Donny, this is so wonderful, pinch me
please! I think
> > this is all a dream." Don was busy still looking around
their new
> > home, opening cupboard doors, smelling the sweet smell
of cedar
> > which had emaniated from the cedar beams of their 20
foot ceiling.
> > "Look at that view of the lake, Cathy! Isn't it
spectacular. I'll be
> > able to watch the skiiers coming down the hill I feel
that close to
> > the mountain." Don was almost as excited as his son,
Eddy. Don and
> > Louise hug each other tight as they looked outside the
huge windows
> > of their new home at the incredible scenery outside.
"Yes, this is
> > like a dream, Cathy". Don had a joyful tear streaming
down his face
> > as he proudly smiled while looking up at his happy
family. jajo
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