Combo Story- Old Steemian Home/ Constrained Writing Contest # 14

This is my entry for Constrained Writing Contest #14 + Winners of Constrained Writing Contest #13. I am also incorporating the Old Steemian Home from the #freewrite group.

You can find other Old Steemian Home stories by following the #steemhome tag. 😊

This week’s Writing Constraint is- Use “however, that’s not how it really happened” somewhere in your story
The story must be at least 250 words long.

I thought this was a good time to add Hive account@svashta into our Old Steemian Home stories.

I was reading Hive account@snook’s assessment of the Old Steemians Home weekly play in the OSH Daily News. She gave it a favorable review, saying that “it was the most colorful telling of an unconventional romance between two unacceptably, unappreciated peasants. The actors were extremely professional, and the show went off without a hitch.”

I would have liked to have believed her review, however, that’s not how it really happened.

I know because I was there.

The evening started like any other play night. The residents of the Old Steemian Home gathered together for the opening of the play…

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But wait, first let me tell you about the rehearsal that led up to the night of the play. That way you will truly understand.

Hive account@snook spent most of the time obsessively cleaning the stage and the props with the feather duster.

Hive account@deaconlee was trying to stand still, as he was one of the props; a tree, but Hive account@snook would make him laugh every time she dusted under his branches. She would try to walk away to continue dusting, but she would hear Hive account@deaconlee whispering, “Do it again!”

This lasted a good while.

“Everyone gather round.” Hive account@mariannewest said.

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She was the director of the play, written by Hive account@svashta.

Hive account@svashta sat in the audience with Hive account@omra-sky; who was only there to make fun and hackle the actors.

“Tonight, we will be rehearsing the love scene between Hive account@f3nix’s character Finley, and Hive account@brisby’s character Melina. Finley and Melina have been fighting their feelings for one another, and have finally met beneath the great Oak tree to declare their true love.”

Hive account@f3nix, and Hive account@brisby took their place on stage and began rehearsing their lines.

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“Ahoy, at last I have found you my love. At last you are in my arms. I will never ever give you up! I shall kill a thousand men…” f3nix spurted out dramatically.

“Wait!” Hive account@svashta said, “That was not the line I wrote. It should be, ‘Melina, my love, at last you are in my arms.’ Not Ahoy…” He looked at Hive account@mariannewest who was lost for words.

“I think he did a great job.” She said after a moment, and then smiled.

Hive account@snook took this opportunity to run on to stage to do some more dusting. Hive account@deaconlee giggled as she passed by him.

“I think this is a good time to shoot something.” Hive account@brisby said, trying to add her own two-cents to the conversation.

“There are no guns in this play.” Hive account@svashta said; getting a little frustrated by the diversion of the rehearsal.

“Shooting Finley would be more exciting.” Hive account@omra-sky added.

“Let us just continue.” Hive account@mariannewest said; trying to keep the rehearsal going as planned.

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“Melina, my love. At last. You are here. In my arms.” Hive account@f3nix said dryly; under his breath.

Hive account@brisby ignored his contempt, and stayed in character, “Finley I have waited so long to hold you. May we never be separated again. I know we will be happy for the rest of our lives!”

“I’m sorry but that just doesn’t sound realistic,” Hive account@omra-sky said, “I mean, they have been apart all this time, and now they are just going to be like… yeah we are going to be happy forever?”

“It’s called a happy ending.” I said, but Hive account@omra-sky rolled his eyes.

That’s when I decided maybe the play needed my, Hive account@simgirl touch.

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“I say, we do as Hive account@brisby said, and shoot Finley. He is never going to make Melina happy. I mean really, they are both peasants. Where are they going to live? Who is going to make the money? We could just change the ending, that would be perfect!” I said, and then smiled.

“We are not going to change the ending. We are not going to shoot Finley, and these two will live happily ever after.” Hive account@svashta said, looking to Hive account@mariannewest again for direction.

“It has been a long night. I think we have done a lot of practicing.” Hive account@mariannewest said. “We will return tomorrow night for the opening act. Please everyone be here before the lights come on for the evening. I know some of you get lost in the tunnels, so give yourselves time to find the theatre. And don’t forget to do your freewrites!”

Hive account@svashta fired up his space ship and headed out for the evening.

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When he returned the next night, he found that the audience was filled with the freewrite authors, and they were all eagerly awaiting the most anticipated play he wrote, and was quite proud of showcasing.

The play was very touching, and other than Hive account@whatisnew tripping the actors most of the play, the actors did a fine job. At the end of the play, when Finley and Melina met under the great Oak tree to declare their love, that’s when it happened.

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“Melina my love. A last we are together. Your shining eyes have been kept from me for too long. I will never let you go.”

Hive account@svashta shook his head at Hive account@f3nix’s improvisation. But, like the others, he watched intently to see how the play would end.

“Not today!” Hive account@brisby said. “I knew from the beginning you would not be true. But with my sister Helga? That I cannot forgive!”

Hive account@brisby pulled a shiny, silver six-shot pistol from her tattered boot and then pointed it at Finley. “You will pay for your betrayal with your life!”

The audience gasped, as they were all expecting the happiest of endings.

Hive account@deaconlee began to sway back and forth to build the tension of the scene.

“Melina, no! I love only you. Your sister was… unavoidable. I mean have you seen her?” Hive account@f3nix replied.

“Those will be the last words you will ever speak.” Hive account@brisby said; a bizarre look illuminated her face.

With the sound of gun fire the curtain closed. The crowd cheered, and the ladies wept over the death of their hero.

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Hive account@mariannewest, Hive account@f3nix, Hive account@brisby, Hive account@deaconlee and Hive account@whatisnew bowed to the audience, who threw flowers on stage and praised them for such a wonderful performance. Hive account@snook ran around nervously cleaning the spilled drink on the side of the stage. I laughed at the ending and praised Hive account@brisby for having the guts to follow her inner voice and conclude the play in such an exhilarating fashion.

Hive account@svashta threw the script into the air and applauded. Maybe, he thought, there is always be room for creativity. He knew he had to write another play for this cast!

To say the play went off without a hitch was an understatement. If I were writing the review, I would have said, it went off with a bang!

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Special thanks go to Hive account@snook for designing the Old Steemian Home, and the Sims to go along with our stories, and to Hive account@omra-sky for beginning the story concept, and allowing us to continue writing about it.

Special thanks again to Hive account@snook for making Hive account@svashta’s Sim at last minute, and without notice. Credit goes to her for the pictures! Thank you!!!

If you enjoy writing, you will enjoy both the Writing Constraint Contest hosted by Hive account@svashta, and the Daily 5-Minute Freewrite, hosted by Hive account@mariannewest.

Thanks for Reading!

You can find other Old Steemian Home Posts Here:
@omra-sky Freewrites, Friendship, And The Old Steemians Home!
@snook That Night in the Shed~ Part 2
@simgirl The Old Steemian Home A Look Back