The Adventures of Wynter -- a crowd-sourced story

Parent Cafe
1

<p>This thread is an attempt to get a crowd-sourced story idea going.</p>

<p>There is a lot of creative writing talent here on CC, but I think we need a conceptional backstory to begin a successful storyline that will have staying power. Also, the amount being written by any given individual should be allowed to vary, so that a coherent portion of a tale may be told and ended strategically with a hook that the next writer can take up easily.</p>

<p>Here’s our backstory:</p>

<p>Wynter Meredith Flint (Wyn to her friends) is a high school senior who has just finished applying to HYPSM when a mysterious phone call is received. Wynter is a genius adventurer type who has interned with Indiana Jones, studied myths and conspiracies, proposed cutting-edge scientific theories, and works as a CIA assassin.</p>

<p>So this is a genre-bender of the highest caliber: conspiracies, thrillers, romance, vampires and their kin, aliens, teleportation, time travel, it’s all fair game. Bend the story to your favorite themes. Make story diversions or fill in Wynter’s history with flashback scenes.</p>

<p>Of course, Wynter is likely to have at least one sibling named Summer, maybe another named Autumn. Autumn could be a male, annoyed with his funky given name and who insists he’s really named Adam.</p>

<p>Let’s see where this takes us!</p>

<p>The opening follows in the next post.</p>

2

<p>It was a dark and stormy night. Beads of perspiration accumulated on her forehead as the final hours before the Common App deadline drew near. Three more supplemental essays to go!</p>

<p>Wynter Meredith Flint was worried. Everyone said she had a lock on HYPSM admissions. Sure, she had perfect academic stats, but so did much of her competition. It was the extras that counted!</p>

<p>Her conference paper merging quantum entanglement with zero point energy had been well received; some speculated that it might even lead to practical teleportation devices. Or time travel. Or access to parallel worlds.</p>

<p>Her letter of recommendation from Dr. Indiana Jones should help – but when he called her archeological discovery as being key to having averted the Mayan Apocalypse, perhaps the Adcoms might suspect hyperbole? Few had the proper security clearance to know the whole truth. </p>

<p>Likewise, what would they make of her research into Area 51, the Illumanti and historical vampire sightings? She was convinced there was much truth hidden behind the rumors and the mythology.</p>

<p>She was concerned about her lack of traditional community service work. As a CIA wet-work specialist, eliminating terrorist threats was definitely providing a community service. It was just not the sort of thing that might endear you to an adcom!</p>

<p>She briefly fantasized that, if Harvard didn’t let her in, maybe she would launch a drone strike on their admissions committee and set up MIT as the fall guy for “a prank gone wrong.”</p>

<p>But for now she needed to finish and submit her applications. Moments after midnight the encrypted call would come. And then the game would be afoot.</p>

3

<p>It was a dark and stormy night. Beads of perspiration accumulated on her forehead as the final hours before the Common App deadline drew near. Three more supplemental essays to go!</p>

<p>Wynter Meredith Flint was worried. Everyone said she had a lock on HYPSM admissions. Sure, she had perfect academic stats, but so did much of her competition. It was the extras that counted!</p>

<p>Her conference paper merging quantum entanglement with zero point energy had been well received; some speculated that it might even lead to practical teleportation devices. Or time travel. Or access to parallel worlds.</p>

<p>Her letter of recommendation from Dr. Indiana Jones should help – but when he called her archeological discovery as being key to having averted the Mayan Apocalypse, perhaps the Adcoms might suspect hyperbole? Few had the proper security clearance to know the whole truth.</p>

<p>Likewise, what would they make of her research into Area 51, the Illumanti and historical vampire sightings? She was convinced there was much truth hidden behind the rumors and the mythology.</p>

<p>She was concerned about her lack of traditional community service work. As a CIA wet-work specialist, eliminating terrorist threats was definitely providing a community service. It was just not the sort of thing that might endear you to an adcom!</p>

<p>She briefly fantasized that, if Harvard didn’t let her in, maybe she would launch a drone strike on their admissions committee and set up MIT as the fall guy for “a prank gone wrong.”</p>

<p>But for now she needed to finish and submit her applications. Moments after midnight the encrypted call would come. And then the game would be afoot.</p>

<p>As Wynter waited for the encrypted call her mind drifted back to a simpler time. She was the only person she knew who had vivid memories from as far back as the age of 6 months. In Jarkarta her Balinese nursemaid Esthelma would carry her everywhere, and sang her Indonesian folk songs all of which Wynter remembered verbatim.</p>

<p>It was in an outdoor market in Gambir where, strapped to Esthelma’s back, she first became aware of evil intent. A small man (or was it a woman?) completely shrouded in robes so that only his black soulless eyes were visible was following them. As Esthelma stopped at the vegetable stand he drew close, staring intently at Wynter. She would never forget those eyes, and indeed, just saw them again last week, in a much older, weathered face. </p>

<p>But the eyes and the evil were the same.</p>

4

<p>Thinking of Esthelma put Wynter’s mind at ease. The kind woman had always been there for her…always had her back. Bali was beautiful place to grow up, but it was Esthelma who radiated true brightness and warmth. </p>

<p>Wynter. Her name was an anomaly in Bali, and Wynter often felt that way in the family home as well. The name was chosen by her father, but her mother readily agreed. After all, they did meet at the Winter Olympics years ago, both superstars in their respective sports. Ironic that they should come to live in a warm region…doubly ironic that Wynter seemed to lack in athletic talent. Well, she could make it up in other ways. Not that parents expressed any disappointment, but it was in Esthelma’s eyes where Wynter took solace.</p>

5

<p>At 12:08, minutes after submitting a vampire-related supplement about diversity to her safety (a Northern directional) Wynter’s iPhone chimed. </p>

<p>The phone played a gamelon version of Frosty the Snowman. As planned, Wynter picked up two beats into the “button nose” line.</p>

<p>“Is this Wynter M. Flint, the applicant with a reputation beyond repute?” a crackly, accented voice queried.</p>

<p>“Semakin bertambah,” Wynter responded in flawless Indonesian, effortlessly rattling off the familiar phrase that would have made Esthelma blush with pride.</p>

<p>“I am your alum interviewer,” the voice announced, "I will be waiting for you at 03:16 AM at the YMMV Caf</p>

6

<p>Wynter squeezed her eyes shut to shake the eerie image off her thoughts. She stood up eager to take a few minutes rest. She walked towards the window and stared out into the blackness of the night broken up by sticks of rain relentlessly falling from the sky. She looked down towards the front yard. A voice spoke.</p>

<p>“Come Wynter.” </p>

<p>Wynter screamed. There it stood on her yard. A shrouded figure looked up at her with soulless eyes beckoning her. She was mortified and yet transfixed at the figure’s stare.</p>

<p>“Come Wynter. It is time.” </p>

<p>The voice was haunting and urgent. It was like a firm rope that entangled her slender body, desperately trying to pull her down.</p>

<p>Wynter tried to resist. She wondered why no one has heard her scream, why no one has stumbled into her room asking if she was okay. “Help, please help,“ she cried.</p>

7

<p>Wynter found herself unceremoniously pushed into the back of a waiting Ford Escalade. Two suits sat on either side of her. She couldn’t see where they were taking her, as the car was driving without lights.</p>

<p>Wynter silently went over her CIA training manual. Having a photographic memory was handy.</p>

<p>The Escalade pulled up to a hidden airstrip. Wynter was escorted to a waiting plane. Again, no one spoke. No one answered her when she queried them, either.</p>

8

<p>WYN hit send on her college application as the clock stuck midnight. Simultaneously the phone starts to ring, reaching a high pitch by the fourth screech WYN rustles through her quilted grey Chanel tote to find the culprit. Of course once she sees it’s Daddy calling, she mutes the glowing phone and throws it back into the chaos of papers, her wallet and her pills. For a moment she is lost in last evening’s unraveling and the quench of her latest blood victim, and cringes remembering the ooze of blood once she sank her teeth into the admission director’s neck after their very stiff interview. Biting the poor guy may not have secured her acceptance into HYPSM, but then again mummy and daddy donated a wing last year in great grandaddy’s name so it’s only a matter of time until the university looks the other way. Generations of Flints have had their way with the staff at HYPSM and it’s part of a secret society on the college campus. Shivering with all these thoughts, WYN checks her watch because the helicopter should be landing soon to take her on the next mission. College days of beer pong parties seem like an exotic vacation after the year WYN has had trekking around the globe in the hopes of unearthing the potion for the CIA. They are so close to curing her dreadful disease, and she pops one of her pills with a quick swig of water to keep the urges down for now. Being born into a vampire family is not what it’s cracked up to be, but WYN is positive, together with her chemistry lab partners, they are weeks away from curing the vampire curse, and therefore unlocking generations of those enslaved by this status. The whirling sounds starts dimly, then escalates to a deafening crescendo so WYN makes her way to the rooftop to meet her team. Thank goodness all the essays and letters of recommendations are complete because there simply will not be a minute in the next few days for anymore college admissions work.</p>

9

<p>Tried to start a cc crowd-sourced story-writing thread 6 years ago. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/298599-lets-write-book-you-each-add-chapter.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/298599-lets-write-book-you-each-add-chapter.html?&lt;/a&gt; It was sabotaged right out of the gate and we abandoned it. Looks like yours is getting better traction (cleverly making it a greenie initiation requirement :wink: ). Hang in there!</p>

10

<p>Wynter felt her iTouch vibrate in her pocket. Score! Her captors hadn’t found it. Her spirits lifted as she was certain that she would be rescued in time for her alumni interview. A Flint would never go missing for long. A Flint would always be missed. Wynter relaxed, basking in the green glow of the airstrip lights.</p>

11

<p>“Wynter of your discontent I should say my dear”</p>

<p>Wyn groan to herself as she heard the mocking, honey smooth voice of April Kinner Slatey, the girl who had been her constant rival since their days competing in the 2 year old advanced program at The Dalton School Preschool. Wynter had shown early promise with her coloration of her handprint turkeys that had been praised in the Antioch Review as Rothkoesque and from that point on April had her blood rival. From then on her academic experience was marred by crushed juice boxes and slash nap towels. </p>

<p>April’s criss crossed her legs as she clicked down the aisle in her mirror polished black leather boots. Wyn steeled herself for more taunting from her rival. She knew she had the moral highground- those boots were obviously not bespoke.</p>

<p>“How unfortunate that you are going to miss your interview, my dear. And ‘no-showing’ it too - that will give a very unfortunate impression. It might even reenforce the rumor that has somehow gotten to the adcoms that you have been abusing Adderol[tm]. Haahahahahaha”. Wyn cringed at April’s crude acting skills. It really was preposterous that April was picked for Hedda Gabler in the 6th grade play and Wynter was relegated to Aunt Julia. Humph! If Mrs. Heidegger could see this hamfisted acting now she would clearly regret her casting decision. Wyn resolved to write a scathing blog entry about it. That Adderol remark hit a little too close to home though- how much did April know? Of course all the children at Dalton were on it- some on a extended release patch- but Wynter had a special cocktail made up by Hunter S. Thompson ex valet that made AZT look like a non-prep public school Science Olympiad project. She did admit that there had been some occasional adverse behaviors but she could control those, right?</p>

<p>April stood over her, looking down with a supercilious smile on her dumb round face. If only phrenology wasnt so discredited, Wyn reflected, there must be a positive correlation of someone with those cheekbones and low character. Might be worth putting out feelers to a couple of journals to see if they might accept a paper… “Sociopathic Tendencies Among the Female Adolescence with Bad Bone Structure and Who Are Obviously Padding Their Chest”. Hmmm, not scientific enough…and someone should say something about those giant pores! Whats that? Oh the b1tch is talking again. </p>

<p>"…and I think you’ll find that it is now 1am", April consulted a platinum watch that Wyn though gaudy and wouldnt be caught dead wearing, “and you have missed the deadline that Professor Petersen set for extra credit for early submission of the term paper to his DropBox” Damn! She was right! The new semester was only 10 days old but there were extra credit points available for submitting the end of course paper now instead of in June. She had just been holding her paper waiting for a pull-quote from Kissinger. </p>

<p>“I know you arent good at math dear, but I have worked out all the sums for you. With the extra credit that I will be getting that you wont, boo hoo”, here April faked rubbing tears from her eyes," my weighted GPA is now 15.11. Sadly yours can be at best 15.07. Making me the Valedictorian. +0 points to Griffendor. I picked this up for you" April dropped a pamphlet on Wynter- Wyn dodged its tacky font. “Its the ECPI course catalog- I understand they have a one year program to become a nail tech- that should be perfect for you dear. Hahahahaha”.</p>

<p>Ugh. This was a revolting development. April was right- the ADCOMS could never accept a Salutatorian. She was having her genome sequence right now to see if the lab could detect an admixture of a URM, but she couldnt count on that. If they detected any Han genes she’d be doomed to MIT or, shudder, CalTech unless she got the report suppressed.</p>

<p>Time for some brio- her poise mentor had been drilling it- “Really, April? This is pathetic. You went to all this trouble to kidnap me for one day? There is one thing you and your fat ankles forgot- the school is dropping Ranking.” Wyn was making this up but she saw a flicker of doubt behind April’s smokey eyes- cheap obvious sort of beauty if you like that sort of thing. Wynter pretend to idle examine her fingernails with a studied casualness. “And I understand there may be some problems with your EC’s April dear. The methadone program you started for under-resourced AmerInd orphans? There is a YouTube documentary alleging you are the one who hooked them on heroin in the first place. So tough to squash these Internet rumors, but I’ll be able to sweet talk my interviewer tomorrow. Next month I’ll be the toast of HYP and the bags under your eyes will be even bigger, April.”</p>

<p>April hissed like a James Watt proto-type. Wyn feigned the aplomb of her dressage days. </p>

<p>“I am afraid you have other things on your itinerary you little hag”. The skretching of plane tires startled Wyn. She had no idea they were landing. Just like April to ignore basic safety precautions. Out the window of April’s tacky private jet she saw the lights of the capital twinkling. She was in DC! She could drop in on Hank and pick up that quote and practice her Mandarin with her old chess partner! And she could get some dim sung at a great place she knew (Republic of Korea Ambassador’s residence) and be back in time for her inner-city fencing lessons. April’s scheme was a fizzler. </p>

<p>“I know all about your so-called after school job at a CIA front business. Resume padder! I have my source and I know all your moves!” How could April know? Ugh. Autumn. April had had her brother her in thrall for the past 6 months with a combination of sibling rivalry and sexual gymnastics learned at one of her Upper West Side poll dancing classes taught by Cher’s sexuality adviser. Damn! Autumn- who April insisted on calling by the detestable name “Tummy”- would do anything for her. In fact she had see Autumn coming out of utility closet with a butt set and a set of alligator clips. Could he have tapped her VOIP phone and passed the information along to April? Wyn couldnt be sure how the technology worked- right now she wished she were more STEMy. Maybe Larry Summers was right. She’d have to ask him after their next spin class at Equinox. </p>

<p>“There seems to be a situation brewing that will require your immediate attention. You may have to be gone from school for a while dear. Thats ok, I am sure you wont be missed. I’ll make sure you get the Times clippings of me as prom queen. Look there is your CIA handler on the tarmac, with some important looking papers for the working girl. You are hourly, right? Mind your head on the way out, we dont want anything else to happen to your hair”. </p>

<p>Wynter was having trouble keeping her brio levels up. April wasnt bluffing- her handler was on the runway waiting impatiently. And he didnt look happy. What ever distraction April had cooked up, it was big. And probably mean. And with last seasons scarf. </p>

<p>Her father was right with what had said on the way home after the girls backstage hair pulling fight after Daltons 2nd grade Nutrition Pageant where the girls fought over who was the more nutrient dense tuber: April is the cruelest moppet of all. </p>

<p>And winter kept us warm thought Wyn as she pluckily stepped down the gangway to meet what ever was in store for her.</p>