“Let’s just put that broken tie down in the ground and put a rock over it, there’s no more left in the bag, it will have to do.” Paul said in a sharp tone. “You guys have to help, you know”. Jeff and Jason were rolling around on the ground, wrestling, “we’re helping, we’re helping!” the two snapped back in unison. “ It’s getting dark and if we don’t get this tent up soon, we might as well sleep under the stars.”
The sun had already gone down and they were still struggling. Finally, under the light of a full moon, they put their sleeping bags and pillows down, hauled in the cooler and other gear, zipped up the door and relaxed. The tent hadn’t been used in a while, the musty smell of canvas was heavy.
The crickets were chirping, frogs were croaking and it was just a great night for camping.. They lit a small gas lantern, opened up bags of chips and decided to take turns telling scary stories. Paul started out with…. “There was a blob of blood the size of a watermelon”……….. and the stories went on. They were all getting spooked, they moved in a little closer together. They opened the cooler, got sodas, and snuggled up in their sleeping bags while listening to one horror story after another
Suddenly…..in the middle of a beheaded Dracula story, they heard a sound outside the tent, it was getting closer. Grrrrrr…Paul put the lantern out and they all sat wide eyed and silent. “shhhhhhh”, Paul whispered, don’t make a sound. The shadow was huge, and it was coming closer. Grrrrrrr…it sounded again, the boys were terrified, they could hear their hearts pounding…..it came up close to the back of the tent….the sniffing and growling was loud and right on top of them.
Paul was sweating and breathing hard, “don’t move” he said to the other two. Then, just as quickly as it came…it was gone. Afraid and shaking, the boys agreed not to venture outside of the tent until the sun came up.
Meanwhile, Paul’s Dad had just slipped back into bed with his Mom for the night. “I don’t know why you allowed those boys to camp in the back yard,” his Mom said “I hope they don’t plan on sneaking out and roaming all over the neighborhood tonight”.
Oh very good Janine, this made me smile. I did get it before the end but that doesn’t matter it was a good read
I thought this was really smart, (cute). I found it very entertaining. Good idea for a story. Good writing. Smiles from Jane.
Thanks Jane, this is actually a true story….only it was me and my girlfriends, and my brother and his friends were the growlers and sniffers………….very scarey night!
"Initially, my perception of her (Shakeela) was the same like other people -- that she is an adult star and she's done... maybe not porn because it was illegal... but soft porn movies. Now my perception is what is on the logo: 'Not a pornstar'," Richa tells Rediff.com Contributor Karan Sanjay Shah.
What I don't understand is how no one took it up sooner as her autobiography had been out a while ago.
Initially, my perception of her was the same like other people -- that she is an adult star and she's done... maybe not porn because it was illegal... but soft porn movies.
She could have easily been hooked onto drugs or cigarettes or been an alcoholic. She likes her drink but she's not dependent on anything.
If I was in her position when -- and you'll have to see the film to know more -- whatever she went through in the late 1990s, I don't think I would've made it because you are completely without any support, no love in your life, no money, nothing... What do you rely on?
I try to humanise the subject first because if I start judging her, that's death for the script and for everybody.
But I have learned over time to be wise and not do method acting. So, I don't let it last more than 10, 15 minutes after 'cut'.
We are talking about harassment. The last time we spoke, I remember you mentioned that you don't feel a movement like #MeToo would happen in India. But it has happened.
But what I told you last time also is that we lack the humanisation, we lack the loyalties, we don't have the legal things in place.
I think it's just about starting because I didn't expect women to come out so strongly in support of each other.
She wrote about Woody Allen, saying if we can't go after your work or your career, we will go after your legacy. You will never be remembered the same way.
For all the good that Alok Nath had done, being perceived as a father figure, the fact that he was hitting on a girl, who was playing his daughter, made me almost want to throw up. That's his legacy now.
You said a lot of women came out in support and that's great. But we have not seen the top, established stars come out and speak about this issue and support it.
See, honestly, I can't judge because I'm not in a position where Rs 300 crores, Rs 400 crores is riding on me, that is the difference.
So, I don't know what the deal is, but I wish that there was open and universal condemning because all they have daughters too.
You don't care about us, that's fine, but care about making the world a better place for your daughters.
You are doing some fabulous work. What's next for you and how are you going about picking these films?
There's another one or two films in the pipeline, and a couple of biopics, which I will announce later.