OLLI CONNECTS
Monthly Magazine

Literary Surprises – The Challenge

Welcome!  And thanks for playing.

The sentences in boldface below are the first lines of a story that we want you and your fellow OLLI-USF members to write.  Add your contribution–a sentence or two–in the Comments fields below.  When we think the story is “complete”, we’ll assemble the contributions and publish it as an OLLI Connects issue.

Sergeant Joe Friday looked at the body on the floor of the seedy apartment, nattily dressed in a tuxedo and clutching a rhinestone tiara in one hand.  “Talk me through it, Frank.  Tell me how this happened.”

 

 

22 responses to “Literary Surprises – The Challenge”
  1. Peter Terzian

    He looks like the character Fagan from the play Oliver, which is on stage at a nearby community theater.

    Reply
  2. Bobbie Mui

    The slap on the left side of his face looks like it’s from a small hand, perhaps a woman’s.

    Reply
  3. Marilyn Myerson

    On closer observation, those are real diamonds in the tiara; might they match the jewels recently missing from Lady M’s safe?

    Reply
  4. BRUCE ZIMMERMAN

    HE USUALLY WOULD NEVER MODIFY A CRIME SCENE, BUT HIS GUT TOLD HIM SOMETHING ELSE. HE TOOK OUT HIS HANKY AND GENTLY MOVED FRANK’S HEAD FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, AND REVEALED FINGERNAIL SCRATCHES ACROSS HIS CHEEK, WITH PART OF A BROKEN NAIL PROTRUDING FROM HIS RIGHT SCHNOZZ.

    Reply
  5. Jan vaupel

    I suspect the lady is dressed in a tuxedo, because black is harder to spot in the dark of night.

    Reply
  6. Peter Terzian

    We can get DNA from the nail, but that’s going to take some time. Let’s get over to the theater for the second show and have a talk with the cast and crew. Ugh. Drama.

    Reply
  7. Marilyn Myerson

    Meanwhile, Lady M has returned from her sojourn abroad (consulting only the most discreet cosmetic surgeons) and is aghast at the theft of her diamonds. Was it one of those “theatre” people? She shivers….

    Reply
  8. cornelius cosentino

    Look like another serial killer is out there – targets only those in tuxedos

    Reply
  9. Ray Ann Favata

    It had been a typical Friday night in the city. Sergeant Joe Friday had been out on patrol when he received a call that a body had been discovered in a seedy apartment.

    Reply
  10. Diane Russell

    “Show people” are always drawn to sparkly things, Lady M muses.

    Reply
  11. Diane

    “Boss,” says Frank, “You know those theater people. They always get up to no good.” But Friday was contemplating the meaning of the scratch and broken finger nail. Hmm, Frank muses, that flower design looks familiar. Now where did see 9 inch nails like that before?

    Reply
  12. Peter Terzian

    We make our way to the theater and meet up with Joe. Wait, is that Lady M playing the part of Fagan?

    Reply
  13. Marilyn Myerson

    Yes, it is Lady M, doing her darnedest to stay in disguise. She disdains “theatre folk” but is fulfilling her community service, after being caught for public urination.

    Reply
  14. Peter Terzian

    When we went backstage to meet with the cast after the show Lady M wasn’t there. One of the actors said that she ran out the stage door and jumped into the dumpster just before the truck came by to collect the trash. How fitting.

    Reply
    1. Joyce Carpenter

      “Wait” said Friday. ” We found the body on Saturday. Tomorrow is Sunday and Monday is dark night at the theatre. Now we’ll have to wait until Tuesday” Friday muttered.

      Reply
  15. Peter Terzian

    Do you think she’ll be back Tuesday, Friday?! We need to follow that truck!

    Reply
  16. Marilyn Myerson

    Oh, no, the police scanner reports that the driver of the dumpster truck was hijacked by a woman in a tuxedo. “She jumped out of the dumpster and scared the living daylights out of me”, the driver exclaimed. He was all shook up..

    Reply
  17. Joan weaving

    Lady M returns to the theater, this time disguised as a dump truck driver. The real driver turns up dead two blocks away.

    Reply
  18. Peter Terzian

    Turns out that the dumpster driver was so upset, the police thought he was refusing arrest for indecent exposure and shot him. Lady M got away, having caused another death. I wonder, what’s with the fly away blonde wig and orange makeup she wears. Hmm…

    Reply
  19. Mary Haynes Satterwhite

    Check Mara Lago, perhaps there we can find her there.

    Reply
  20. Marilyn Myerson

    Will the brave Sgt Friday finally capture Lady M and put her away for her nefarious activities, including her tendency to lie shamelessly about her innocence?

    Reply
  21. Peter Terzian

    Or will (s)he get away with a wink and a nod and the occasional slap on the wrist. Only time will tell. But, for now, I’m with Friday. Let’s get some donuts!

    Reply

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