NaNoWriMo 2015 Project

Day 3 - Protagonist Background Story - Contest

Saturday, Oct. 03
Required: Contest Round 1: Protagonist Background Story ▼

Write a story about your protagonist that takes place outside of your novel. Make your readers relate to him or her in such a way that we would be devastated if he or she were to experience conflict (which, ultimately, sometime in November, he/she will.) The object of the contest is to make your judges root for your protagonist! Simply put: the character we like best wins. If your protagonist is an assassin or someone similarly "unlikeable," never fear! I love Vlad Taltos, the professional assassin . You can make us love your character, too. Add the background story to your character database (if applicable.)

*Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday, Oct. 04 to compete. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you may still post your assignment completion for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.


Taryn Campbell

Taryn grabbed her school bag and called goodbye to her sitter, Mrs. Carson as she scurried out the door and headed for the dark green Ford that was just beginning to pull into the driveway. She waited on the edge of the grass until the car stopped, by then Mrs. Carson had emerged on the front step to make sure she followed that rule.

Taryn tipped her head around and smiled at Mrs. Carson before moving around to the passenger side of the car. It took her two hands to open the big door and pull it open. She slid into the vinyl seat beside her mother then stretched back out to grab the door and yank it. Her mother reached across to help her pull it closed giving it enough force to capture the closure and hold.

She waved at Mrs. Carson again, then smiled at her mother. Her smile dimming when her mother did nothing but glance quickly at her to make sure she was seated and safe.

"Mrs. Carson helped me with my poem... I wrote it for school..." Taryn began infusing a brightness to her voice.
"That's good pumpkin." her mother said absently, as she pulled out in to highway.

Taryn fell silent letting the tension swim around the car. Her mother's unhappiness licked at her, barring its jowls. Her shivered and pulled her school bag a little closer to her on her lap.

When they arrived home, she skittered out of the car slamming the door with both hands before running ahead into the house. She dropped her bag just inside the door and called out for her kitten. The tri-coloured ball of fuzz galloped up the stairs from the basement and went straight into her arms. Taryn cuddled the kitten into her face and let her smile back out. She sat down on the edge of the step and let the kitten into her lap.

When her mother passed through between the outer door and inner one leading to the kitchen, she barely looked at the girl or the kitten. Taryn watched her mother pass into the house pausing only to take off her boots before heading through to hang up her coat. She put the kitten down and watched her skitter after her mother before taking off her own boots. She placed them carefully on the tray before heading in to find her father.

"Daddy? Are you tele-sitting again?" she ran straight for him, jumping into his lap. He smiled and cuddled her in. "Did you save me a cookie?"

His answer was a smile that her giggling and dashing for the kitchen where she pulled his silver metal lunch box down to get the cookie.

"Don't spoil your dinner." her mother told her as she moved into the room heading for the fridge.

"I won't..." Taryn said just before she began to nibble on the chocolate chip cookie. She headed back in to the living room and climbed back into her father's lap, curling into the crook of his arm.

It wasn't long before she slipped to the floor to play with the kitten and her father went into the kitchen to help with dinner.
When she was told to clean up for dinner, she headed down the hallway trailing her ribbons. The kitten bounded after her and she giggled at the little ones antics.

"Don't take all night, Taryn." her mother admonished. Her mother's tone had her dropping the ribbons and moving to wash her hands. No need to upset her mother... not when the tension was bubbling below the surface.

When she walked into the kitchen, she pulled up short. Her mom and dad were doing their usual things, but there was no talking. The room felt tight and uncomfortable.

Her mother looked at her and she felt a chill, "Stop with the doddling..."

She made to move quickly to her spot at her table and slid in. The tension swirled nipping at her. Neither of her parents said a word all through the meal and she kept quiet picking at her food.

Her mother was the first to get up and start to clear the table. Her dad gave her a smile and told her to 'eat up' as he got up with his own plate.

She was left alone at the table to finish. Her dad heading to watch the television; her mother to do the dishes.
When she finally slipped the last bit of food into her mouth, her mother whisked her plate away. She moved through the heavy tension to retrieve the ribbons and the kitten followed after her, knowing more play was at hand.

She kept her giggles quiet as she and the kitten moved off to her bedroom. It was not so oppressive in here. The kitten tumbled and rolled following after the ribbons. When they tired of the play, Taryn pulled one of her notebooks from her shelf and turned to free page. She took up her pencil and let the words drip onto the page. The words told of her fears and seven year old concerns as they flipped and swirled around her. The kitten swatted at the pencil and Taryn smiled. She took that moment to draw the kitten. Her crayons coloured in the patches of brown, black and white.

When it was time for bed her mother came and found her. She collected the kitten while Taryn went to wash her face and brush her teeth as she was told. She skipped out to her father to give him a hug and kiss.

"Night, Angel." he said kissing her forehead, "sweet dreams."

"Night, Daddy... you going out?"

"Yes, love.... for a bit."

"Taryn, come. Let you father go to his bowling game." Taryn glanced at her mother, the tone barely concealed a bitterness that she did not understand.

"Do I get a story?" she asked hopeful, but her face fell when her mother shook her head.

"Not tonight, pumpkin.... mommy's not feeling very well."

Taryn gave a nod of understanding before crawling in under the covers. She loved story time and wanted to ask to look at her books on her own, but the look on her mother's face had her pausing and giving a weak smile.

"Good night, Pumpkin..." her mother tucked her covers in and bent down to place a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well."
As her mother went to pull her door closed, Taryn called out, "Please... leave it open?"

"A crack." her mother agreed, then left the door slightly ajar. Taryn stared at the light that glowed in from the hall. It was dim. She strained her ears to her her mother move down the hallway and back to the living room. Moments later she heard the TV low and murmury. She closed her eyes but sleep evaded as anxiety swarmed and filled the darkness. Taryn pulled the sheets up so only her eyes were visible. She curled to face the door and waited for her eyes to adjust. She wished the kitten was still with her, but her mother always insisted that she go out into the hallway and have the basement to play in. She'd be let back in in the morning.

Hours later Taryn was awaken by the sound of someone crying. She lay still looking about the grey darkness of her room. She hated to get up from her warm bed, but the crying disturbed her, so she quickly shifted the sheets and readied herself to dash across the darkness to her door.

In the hallway, the night light from the bathroom glowed warmly across the linoleum. Her parents bedroom door stood open in the dim light. Beside her the spare bedroom door was closed. Odd. It usually stood open. Stepping close to listen she heard the crying. She set her hand on the doorknob and drew in a shaky breath. She wanted to call out for her mother, but something stopped her.

As she stood there, the crying subsided. She heard footsteps and shifted back into the darkness of her room. Hiding out of sight, she watched the spare room door open and her mother emerge. She was wiping the tears from her face.

She watched frozen to the spot as her mother moved to the bathroom. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but something held her back. She did not want to anger her mother. Something about this was not right. She crept back to bed temporarily forgetting her fear of the monsters under her bed. Whatever was upsetting her mother was worse than monsters under the bed... but she didn't know what that could be.

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