Vintage Vignettes: Meet Harley

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday,  March 23, 2024

Image collage by Teagan
Image collage by Teagan (not from the story)

Welcome, back to my “Vintage Vignettes.” How is this new season starting out for you?  I want mine to be a commitment to putting full focus on one of my unfinished writing projects.  There are far too many from which I could choose…

I never intended these posts to be about my unreleased books.  However, I when I found myself considering another snippet from one, it occurred to me that maybe sharing excerpts from them would be a way to help me choose.  We’ve looked at openings from Heartbreakers (the spy story a few weeks ago, just before I started these posts) and Lost Treasures (working title, from last weekend). Both of those are actually new.  Today I’m sharing something much older.

This video is not vintage, but the subject is way beyond retro. The subject is also a big part of my story.

The character of a young girl often came up in my old “three things” writing exercises (not the same as my Three Things serials).  In 2013, that character inspired me to start writing Tatterdemallian, the Electric Zucchini.  (Note: Origin of tatterdemalion:  1600–10; first written tatter-de-mallian and rhymed with Italian.)

The main character’s name is Arlecchina Parker, but when she was a toddler, the closest she could come to saying her name was Harley. The name stuck.

That said, meet Harley…

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Silence felt as soft as a blanket.  Harley imagined she pulled it around her and hid under its velvety concealment as she crept upward.  The girl’s lithe movements carried her up the mesa quickly.  She was agile for a ten-year-old, though Sybil often reminded her that she’d reach “that awkward stage” soon enough.

Timothy Eberly, Unsplash

Determined weeds and strangled shrubs dotted the stony incline.  The mesa rose up, yellow and black, beneath the clear blue sky, just outside town.  Volcanic rocks crunched beneath Harley’s shoes as she worked her way up to the tableland.

Inching closer to the petroglyph, she cringed at the sound.  There wasn’t another soul around, but just the same, she felt like she needed to be quiet.

Then a rock slipped under her foot, and she went skidding downward.  The mesa was small but steep.  Her quick reflexes kicked in, and she put out her hands.  Rocks scraped her palms as she slid, but she managed to catch herself before she careened out of control.

At the top, she took a trembling breath and tried to steady her nerves before she crept across to once again look at the ancient drawing that often invaded her dreams.  That awful face.  The petroglyph.

Absently she dusted bits of dirt and gravel from her skinned palms.  It smarted enough that she stopped to inspect the damage.  Her right hand was bleeding a little, but it wasn’t too bad.  Harley took another step forward still looking at her palm.  She was startled to hear a voice, and she drew back with an electric jump.

“Whooo!”

She heard the sound and looked toward a clump of rabbitbrush.  A roadrunner scurried out of the shrub.  With another hoot, it ran away.  She gave a little laugh at the bird’s comical scamper, and another at herself for being scared.

Harley turned back and gazed at the boulders where she had found the petroglyph back when summer break started.  It was her secret.  She got a really bad feeling whenever she even thought about telling somebody.  She didn’t believe anyone at all knew about it.

Three Rivers Petroglyphs, New Mexico Bobbush Photo at iStock
Three Rivers Petroglyphs, New Mexico. Bobbush Photo at iStock.

Sure, there were thousands of petroglyphs at Three Rivers, over in Otero County.  And there was a whole National Monument dedicated to petroglyphs way up around Albuquerque.  However, she hadn’t heard of any others in Mime Verde, and nobody had ever mentioned the one on the mesa.

It made her skin crawl every time she saw it.  The face was fierce with sharply pointed teeth, horns, and wide ears shaped like fishtails.  She felt afraid just thinking about it, even though she realized it was in fact a silly looking drawing someone put on the rock hundreds of years before.

Something about it pulled her back to the place, again and again.  Harley tucked a strand of flyaway blond hair behind her ear and gazed at the hideous grimace.  It gave her goose bumps and made her want to look over her shoulder.  It was as creepy as creepy could get.  Then before she realized that her feet were moving, she found herself several steps closer to the petroglyph.

Her hand was shaking and it stung where the scrape made it bleed, but she forgot about the discomfort as she stared at the ancient image.  The ugly thing repulsed her but it also drew her.  Harley stretched her hand toward it, wanting to touch the rock, but not wanting to at the same time.  She wondered if that was what grownups meant when they said “like a moth to a flame.”

A bright flash of light reflected off something in the direction of the road far below.  At the same moment she heard a voice hiss the word “No!”

Harley turned toward the light and sound.  In the glare that assaulted her eyes, for a second, she could have sworn she saw a woman.  She was all white, like the light — her hair, her clothes, even her eyes were white with the light.  Harley blinked at the brightness, and the image was gone.  She knew it had to be her imagination, but it seemed so real.

She twisted suddenly, trying to see if it moved somewhere else, and she lost her balance.  Harley fell backward and her already skinned palm hit the rough ground directly in front of the petroglyph.  She thought it was definitely bad enough to need a band aide.  There was a lot of sand in the bloody scrape on her palm.

A drop of her blood was on the rough dry ground.  Harley thought the sun must have caught the red droplet, because suddenly it sparkled like a gemstone.  Then the blood was completely absorbed into the thirsty soil.  She looked at the spot bewildered.  Granted, it was just a little drop of blood, not an awful lot.  But there wasn’t a trace of it left.

The place where she had seen the woman was empty.

End of Vignette.

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It’s just a vignette, extracted from the novel, Tatterdemallian: the Electric Zucchini.  That was probably my most ambitious project ever.  I quickly became overwhelmed with the toxicity of my real-world job, and had to shelve the story.  My main purpose in posting it is to share some creativity, and maybe inspire you to write a fictional “slice of life” about a random topic.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.  I love to hear from you, so friendly comments are encouraged. Hugs!

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Of course, there’s the obligatory shameless self-promotion…

Thistledown: Midsummer Bedlam

Thistledown - Midsummer Bedlam. New cover by Teagan R. Geneviene

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B082RFN9GF

Paperback:  relinks.me/1675233632

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 and 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or used with permission, or from free sources.

61 thoughts on “Vintage Vignettes: Meet Harley”

  2. That was a good one. Speaking of slice-of-life content, my friends and Sarah often nudge me to write a story related to my various experiences. However, I know that is not my forte. I’m a completely different creature when I’m sharing stories verbally but it does not translate when I write. Not everyone can write everything. When I read your vignettes I admire your style and even envy it because I cannot write like that, doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m good at blogs and reviews. However, I had a similar experience in October of 1995. Just a day after my mother passed away. I was having my evening meal. My elder sister went out for 10 minutes. I was all alone. Dinner was right in front of me, devastated and weeping I still couldn’t believe mom was no more and then I heard my mother’s voice call my name. I swear that is the most chilling experience I ever had. It was like my mom was right beside me but I couldn’t see her. Scared, I dropped the spoon, jumped out of the chair, and ran out of the home. When my sister returned she was like why are you out? and I was like I heard mom. We both went in….nothing. The lights are on, the food’s cold on the table, the spoon is on the floor, and the ceiling fan is on. Nothing. I often convinced myself that maybe it was my subconscious projecting that voice. I was in shock at that time so maybe it was just my brain playing tricks like hallucinations, or who knows it was Mom from the other side.

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    1. Thank you for this comment, Sharukh — as well as for your kind compliment. I think you underestimate your writing skill. What you told here is quite vivid. I felt that I shared that moment.
      I was eight years old when my sister died. She was in the hospital for many days, and I was miles away at my grandparents’ house. In the middle of the night, I awoke crying, inconsolable, and yelling that she was dead. A few minutes later the phone rang, with a call letting the family know it had happened. At that age I didn’t have the understanding or the words to describe what happened. However, if I could have, I would have said that her presence came to me to say goodbye.
      Anyhow, I appreciate you reading and commenting. Big hugs.

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      1. Sorry to hear about your sister. About my imagination, yes, I have vivid memories of many of my life experiences as back as when I was 7 years of age. However, commenting is one thing and turning it into a story is something else. Hugs.

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  9. I really like this vignette, Teagan. Your creativity amazes me. I like Harley, and I like the story. I’m curious about the woman in white. This story could go a lot of different ways, but I’m guessing they’d all be good. I hope to see someday.

    I hope you’re having a nice easy weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Teagan,

    This vignette is intriguing. I already like Harley. Thank you!

    Seems like you have a lot of useful creative output at your fingertips. It’s great that you are going through it and gleaning what you need right now.

    I’m sure you’ll be full throttle back to writing, soon!

    HUGS!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement, Lavinia. I think Guitar Mancer is closer to being finished than any of my shelved books. If I could just decide how I want to dispose of the super-villain, then I’d jump right into that one. I’d like to basically lock him up with a crazy (but mostly loveable) goddess, but I had a more romantic plan for her and the Grover character, so that doesn’t work… Simply killing him is too easy. LOL. Big hugs.

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  16. A wonderful vignette, Teagan, and I’d love more. But your head has to be in the right place to write, so I can understand why you stopped. I hope some time in the future you might pick this up – it holds so many promises!

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    1. Thanks, Noelle. I added so many widely contrasting fantasy (based on reality) elements to that story, petroglyphs, Harlequin, cross-over-world, and even a little known part of Las Vegas, NV. It was shaping up to be quite a romp. One of these days… I appreciate your encouragement. Big hugs.

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  17. Three Rivers Petroglyphs is a hop skip and a jump from you. Petroglyphs are like super retro. Cool you are working them into your story.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thanks, Tim. Yes, they are. Back when I worked in Albuquerque, I saw a petroglyph and was so intrigued that it stuck with me. Five years later (after I got the job in DC) the image was still kicking around in my head — and somehow it combined with the Harlequin story from the 1600s. I really want to go back to that story. But I think I’m more likely to cope with one that is closer to finished. Thanks for visiting. Hugs.

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  18. I was drawn to the image just like Harley. Your description and was so vivid I could see it in my mind. Of course I want to know who the woman in white is and why the “no.” A terrific piece of creative writing, Teagan.

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    1. Huge thanks for your feedback, John. It is a very visual story. All the way to a pair of tacky leg lamps (one of which is hairy) that are inside the Electric Zucchini (which looks like a VW hippie van). And then there’s the steampunk ascetic for parts and certain characters…
      Ultimately, maybe I need to figure out which story I can finish the quickest. That would help me (mentally) most — and unfortunately this one is pretty far down the list in regard to “how long to finish.” I appreciate your encouragement. Big hugs.

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        1. Exactly. Aside from work issues, part of what got me off track was exploring the social-political elements for three different races. Maybe I can steer clear of that when I eventually go back to it. The exchanges here have made me want to continue it. ❤ 🙂

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  19. What a title for your novel! (Reminds me of The Great Zucchini, who, around here in Maryland, can be hired to be the entertainer at kids’ birthday parties.)

    Anyway, moving on from that digression: I enjoyed your scene from the novel. Vividly described, and it brings the suspense of the mysterious woman as a contrast to the creepy looking petroglyph.

    Also, I can relate to how other demands can pull away from writing time and energy. I wish you well in sorting out your unfinished projects 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you kindly, Dave. Haha — I haven’t heard of him. Originally I included the book cover I made, featuring the Electric Zucchini — it looks like a VW hippie van, but even quirkier… plus some magic elements. Yes, it’s a story full of contrasts like the one you mentioned. Anyhow, I removed the Zucchini image from this post, since I was only featuring Harley. Thanks for the luck — I sure need it! Hugs.

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    1. Thanks for that great feedback, GP. I’m determined to finish it. Eventually.
      By the way, yesterday I was able to do a full day of editing for the Delta Pearl book (which I’ve been on-and-off about). I was working on the part with your clockwork leopard. 😀 Hugs.

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  21. Very atmospheric, Teagan. And quite menacing as well. I’d like to know more, and this is before my time reading your blog, so although the name of the book sounds familiar, I don’t recall any details about it. Thanks for sharing this and the video. Fascinating!

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    1. Thanks very much, Fraggle! I wish I had thought of this story now, rather than back then. It was my most ambitious idea ever, AND my workplace was so awful. I’m surprised I wrote anything at all. My mythology was inspired by the 1600s story of Harlequin — along with my own fanciful thoughts about how alien many of the petroglyph drawings are.

      I created three races of people, plus some of their political structure, along with a steampunk-looking world which was capable of crossing over into ours. If I had thought of it now, with my job out of the picture… I do still intend to finish it when I’m able.

      Big hugs.

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    1. Thanks, Darlene. I know one of your wonderful Amanda books is set in NM.

      Haha, I wasn’t sure what I could do with the name Arlecchina, but “Harley” came pretty quickly as her nickname — and that added another element to the story. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

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