A NICE SHADY STREET

They’ve been out all afternoon selling magazine subscriptions, but they got tired and sat down. They looked relaxed, a little tense but relaxed. Sort of an empty street, isn’t it? Where do you think they live? I’m trying to figure that out. No necessarily the true south because you got too many fir trees. It looks like somebody’s front yard. They’re on the curb. They’re cars in the street.

How old do you think she is? I wouldn’t say past twenty. I think so, too. Pretty trees. Yeah. There’s a nice one. Some mixed up vegetation-type things, isn’t it? Must be somebody’s neighborhood. What kind of trees? It doesn’t matter. I don’t think they’re young men.

The one on the right has a commanding posture. It’s a nice street. Orlando used to be like this, lovely homes, front yards and back yards. She doesn’t look like she’s very old. The one on the right looks like a Caroline. Are they sisters or friends? Probably friends. Neighbors maybe. Probably.

What’s this, a creek? That’s a nice picture. That’s the way it is. Yes, it is. It’s easy, though, right.

That’s a street they’re on. They went on a picnic earlier. What has she got around her neck? It might be what you carry kids around in. Is Caroline the other girl’s mother? Yes. I think somebody’s the mother of somebody. I don’t think they know exactly what to expect. There’s nothing to go by. All the cars that are there have been there all day. I don’t think those are cars in the background. Maybe two cars put together.

I’m worried a car is going to hit their legs. What is the red spot by their feet? Is this a park? They’ve got ugly knees. Nobody else on the street. Is this a street? I think they’re kind of bored. It looks to me like it’s a creek, and they’ve got their feet wading in the creek. And there’s a beautiful tree growing there. No, it’s just a street.

1943. That’s a long time ago. Why isn’t the creek making more ripples? I know they’re together. It looks like fish skins heading up to the sky. But these trees are growing funny. They’re growing up and down not like real trees on a curb.

One time we lived on a dead end street in Orlando. I see these kids sitting on a curb with their feet in the gutter and it reminds me of what we used to do. Nobody ever came down that street. Our house was the next-to-the-last house and there was this large fence with a big two door opening that was never opened and the other side was a very exclusive apartment-type neighborhood and we used to enjoy going over there and dumping garbage cans and doing things we shouldn’t have been doing. We were pretty bad little kids. There were six of us in our family, and each one of us was individually ornery. I don’t know how my mother did it. My father was a representative of the government. We lived wherever the prettiest flag flew.

I never saw a street like this with leaves going across it. That’s a red ball under Caroline’s foot. They were probably playing ball. That’s not very big ball. It’s very small, and there are only two people.

Where it is? Is there a creek around here? I think it’s in Florida. I think it could definitely be in Florida. That’s where we have them. Look, the creek is going behind the tree. Way down there, it looks like the fall, so there might be a fall, but it’s not rippling enough for a heavy falls. It looks to me like a stream going down the middle, more so than a street. It doesn’t have any flowers or anything to go around it. No wildflowers. There are some flowers in the corner, and behind Caroline.

What are they going to do next? I don’ think they’ve got anything in mind, to tell you the truth. They’re trying to think of something to do, but they’re coming up blank. I’m not so bored, are you? I was on that street once. They’re going to have a hard time coming up with something original to do. They look completely wiped out, not physically but mentally. They’re going to make it up as they go.

I still don’t think it’s a street. No, it’s a street. A nice shady street.

Are these girls related? I think they’re just friends. Sisters don’t play together, at least I don’t think they do. Well, they must have something in common. I don’t know. They look the same.

You do a good job with it.

When you look closely, it doesn’t look like a creek. That could be a pond in the back extending into the street, if it is a street. Is it a street or a creek? Doesn’t make any difference. Are they going swimming next? No, a creek isn’t deep enough to go swimming. They’re on a big, long canoe. The boat is long.

That looks like a waterfall behind them. Look at all the trees. So many of them. I looked up there. Other ones. They’re looking at something across the street. I’d like to see some more pictures.

How should our story end? They’re not going anywhere. They’re staying here. It looks like a lot of little buildings in the background, like the place where you go camping. Are they going to go camping next? Yes. That’s what they’re supposed to be discussing, if they’re going camping next. No way! No, they shouldn’t go camping. Why? There’s water, a place to go swimming.

STORY BY: Patricia, Betty, Barbara, Nancy, Vivian, Tony

HELPERS: Colin, Kennedy, Sarah

PRANCING AROUND

That looks like my niece. She’s the star dancer of Southern ballet. If I hadn’t goofed off so much when I was younger, I would be dancing.

If they would just let me go, then they’d just come back. They’re looking at them.

This is the front of the school. Earl is the one down at the house. I’m not going anywhere.

I love ballet. I wish I had been a good girl and stuck with it when I was younger. I had too much else to be interested in. Baseball. I have some things with that. I don’t want it like that way.

She said she is too lazy to go. I can’t tell you. I know ballet but I can’t tell you what she’s doing. She’s on her toes and she’s got her hands up in the air. The best place to get is right up here.

He’s the one who has this one. You don’t have to look at his. I had to get my hair fired.

She’s excellent. Where is she? Today. She takes everything in. I don’t want one.

I thought every year you had a red one.

She must be on a stage somewhere. Backdrop like that, it would have to be. She’s not dressed for anything, though. Rehearsal, maybe. Is she on a stage? Yeah.

Do you want two of them to be here dancing? Is it two tonight? Yeah. That’ll take care of everything.

Where’s your bisel row? I got me a new one. He’s looking for it. This is called chocolate.

I want to get the first one next, the next one. I have nothing I can wear, only this thing. That’s all they do.

There’s John. There was twenty-two. This was a pretty one. I liked it. I thought it was pretty.

What is her name? Dorothy. We’ll call her Dottie for short. Chocolate candy. She likes chocolate.

Is she practicing for a big performance? Doesn’t look like it. Just make it for her.

No smooching in here! Oh, he got it back, huh?

It looks like she’s holding the roof up.

Is that a man? No! That’s a woman. What city is she in? New York. She lives there.

She’s doing nothing. She’s looking at the thing above her. I think she’s just prancing around. We can’t have them all dancing. She’s not dancing. She’s just prancing.

What does she do for a living? She just prances. She hangs drapes. She’s a decorator. No smooching at this table.

When there’s no one looking and you want to prance around, why not? She doesn’t want to be different. When you’re acting silly and stuff. We’re too old to prance around. No, we’re not. We can prance around in our minds.

What else does she like to do? She just prances around. Does she like to do anything else? Well, I don’t.

What does Dorothy want? Well, I don’t think she wants to hang like that. I don’t think she’s just prancing around. She might be using her prancing around to get ahead.

Get us going, that’s what he said. You’re ready. You’re first.

What is Dorothy going to do after she finishes rehearsal? That covers a lot of territory. She might do another flip-flop and then some more prancing around.

What’s down there? It’s a fig room. She’s okay down there in the fig room.

What happens at the end of the day? Is she going to do a flip-flop? No.

How should our story end? But we haven’t gotten all the way around, have we? Mostly flip-flops up there. What’s a good ending for our story? I don’t know. There aren’t always good endings. Type a love letter to me.

STORY BY: Nancy, Vivian, Betty, Patricia, Betty Kelly, Betsy, Dottie, Barbara

HELPERS: Terry, Colin, Sarah

BICYCLING TO THE SEASHORE

What time of day is this? 3:00 in the afternoon. Are these women friends? They could be. Then again, they could be a pain in the neck.

They’re pretty. They look pretty nice. They put a lot of work together.

Well, their feet are not touching the ground. It looks like two bicycles put together. Or just one long bicycle. It’s kind of weird. There’s a spotlight on them. They’ve got two little umbrellas over them. The bicycle looks like it’s being held up. A couple of horns in the front.

They’re going to a picnic at the seashore. Are they meeting anyone or is it just them? Just them. Obviously they’re not worried about their shoes because they’re barefoot. Look again, they do have shoes on. Little yellow shoes. Doesn’t look like it to me, but I guess it is. How will they get to the seashore? On the bicycles.

What are their names? Kay and Irene. Or Irena Kay. Kay is in the front. They look to me like they’re underwater. Definitely. Looks like it’s wavy.

These two women are friends. It doesn’t look to me like they have very good food on hand. They’re definitely bringing cold food, nothing cooked.

Why are they going to have a picnic? Must just be that time of day, that time of year. They’re spending their vacation on the water. Where are they spending their vacation, if it’s by the water? Anywhere on the coast. Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina. Where are Kay and Irene? Looks to me like they’re suspended in the water.

How did they get their bikes underwater? Just rolled them in there. Is anyone else on vacation with them? The people with them are taking the pictures. Who came with them on vacation? Family.

Where are they from? Somewhere near water, because they’re very much accustomed to being in water. That’s very still water they’re in, because the umbrellas aren’t moving at all. There’s no flap in them. They’re just standing there straight. Doesn’t look like there’s any land under the front wheel.

The bicycle looks like it’s tipping a little bit. The girl in the back’s hair is blowing out back, and the girl in the front’s hair is blowing out front. Why is that? Must be a whirlwind of air going through there. They both have their feet pointed in the same direction. But the one in the front seems to be taking more on than the one in the back.

What are they wearing? Just shorts and a shirt. Looks like some sort of scarf over one’s shoulder. What’s that on their backs? Must be part of a collar. Their hair is flowing down over the top of it.

What do they want? Just to have a good time. Exercise. What are they going to do to have a good time? Get off those dumb bicycles. Then what? They’ve got bags around them that they can open up and spread around to sit on. I imagine one of them has some food in the box behind them.

I don’t think either one of them is too interested in the picnic. They’re just posing for the picture. One of them’s wheel is completely off the ground, and the other one’s back wheel is on the ground. So how are they getting anywhere? Well, I think obviously they don’t want to go anywhere.

They’re on the edge of a cliff under the water. No land under the front wheel, but under the back wheel is that cliff.

What else are they going to do when they get to the seashore? They’re probably going to wade in the water, since they’ve got their shoes off. They’ll blow the horn. Beautiful faces. They look happy, don’t they? She’s got a package. I wonder what’s in there. What could be in there? Something to eat. Pretty girls.

Is there anything besides food in the basket? Doesn’t look like the kind of basket you’d carry food in. But I guess maybe they do. I think so. Wish they’d bring me some of the food.

Notice how much the wind is blowing up the skirts? Are there any animals under the water with them? I don’t think they’re underwater.

They’ve got little shoes on. It’s a nice picture. Kay and Irene. Wouldn’t that be funny if that were really their names?

When they’re not on vacation, what do they do? They work as waitresses. Do they like being waitresses? Well, it’s the best job they could get with their talent.

There’s a lot of wind on the girl in the back. Her hair is standing up. It’s really a cute picture.

Does anything go wrong on their vacation? I don’t think so. They have a nice vacation.

Well, they’re not going to get very far if they’re riding those bicycles with the umbrellas up because the wind will get under them and lift them up. Take them out of the water. Enough is enough. Don’t send them away somewhere.

Where are the children? Do they have any children? No, doesn’t look like it. If they’re dealing with water, the children have to be near them.

They’re pretty stupid if they’re riding their bikes with the umbrellas up, because the wind could take them off. They should tie them down, because they could go much faster. If they know where they’re going. I don’t think they do.

You came to the right place. We’re funny. This is the fun group.

I hope they haven’t got a long ways to go.

It’s a pretty picture. It gives you something.

How should our story end? Pretty quick. Let’s end it quick. Should we let them get to the seashore? I think they’re there already. I think they want to go home. They look like happy women. But there’s something about them that makes them look old. They ran into a rainstorm and it destroyed everything they had with them. They had no place to stay, so they got on their bikes and went back home.

STORY BY: Dottie, Patricia, Nancy, Barbara, Vivian

HELPERS: Terry and Sarah