Challenge: Turn on your TV. Write down the first line that you hear and write a story based on it.
Blue Bloods, Season 8, Episode 7: “Raymond, open up.”
Jackson leafed through the wad of hundred-dollar bills and split them into stacks of $1,000 each. He didn’t turn when he heard Anthony enter the room.
“We’ve upped our profits this week. By my calcula—”
Anthony cut him off: “I’ve been getting complaints about Ray.”
Jackson paused as he lost count. Exhaling, he began to count the money again, hoping Anthony hadn’t noticed him stiffen.
“Your lil bro has been shorting the customers,” Anthony continued as he stepped up beside Jackson. Taking the cash from Jackson’s hand, Anthony replaced it with a gun. “Take Mikey and go take care of it.”
Jackson looked down at the gun. “You’re sure they’re not lying?”
“Do we have a problem?”
Shaking his head, Jackson cocked the gun and led Mikey to the beat-up sedan Ray had boosted last month. They drove to Ray’s apartment in silence.
Outside Ray’s door, Jackson turned to Mikey. “You can go wait in the car. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Anthony thinks you do.” Mikey pulled his own gun from the waistband of his jeans and gestured to the door. “Come on, let’s do this. I’m supposed to meet my girl in an hour.”
Jackson nodded and slammed his fist on the door three times. “Raymond, open up.”
Mikey tired of waiting almost immediately, and he kicked open the door before Jackson could knock again. Ray greeted them with a gun, and Jackson barely had time to jump to the side before Ray emptied his revolver into Mikey.
“Jesus, Ray,” Jackson said as Mikey thudded to the floor.
“What? You said ‘Raymond.’ That’s the signal, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah, but you shouldn’t have wasted the bullets. Two or three would’ve done, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to get more on the road.”
“He’s a big guy,” Ray protested, waving the revolver in the direction of Mikey’s hulking form.
“I know. You did good.” Jackson peeled Ray’s trembling fingers off of the gun and slapped Ray on the arm. “Now grab the money and let’s get going.”
In an effort to start the summer strong, I’m doing Writer’s Digest’s 12-Day Plan.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8
Miles Away 