#stamato

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An Encounter with Your Former "Selfie" -Mary Stamato

An old “Selfie” is uncovered on Facebook after years of seclusion by the Selfie subject and a group of her friends.

              Finally! After all these years, it feels good to stretch back out to my original screen size, 465 pixels and all! Whew! It’s been a while! But we’re still looking-

            … Stacy what happened to your braces? And your hair; its completely out of your face, and… blonde? I thought we were going for that punk-emo-skater-secret-girlie-girl-adorable look? Well, I guess it’s a good thing you found me! Don’t you worry girlfriend we will have you right back to the old you in no time and-

            Excuse me?

Ew? Ew! After all these years of hiding in the dark depths of cyberspace, that is all you have to say to me, “ew?” Oh sure, go on and laugh! That’s really mature!

What? No, I did not take this picture myself! Can’t you read the caption: “I don’t remember who took this, but I totally wish the hadn’t! No make-up, no editing, SO embarrassing!!!!!”

Gasp! No we set it as our profile picture because it was real, raw, us in our true- Sh, Stacy! We totally did not take this picture ourselves, ladies. Stacy, shut up! OMG, she really doesn’t know what she is talking about…

Lyrics?

Oh, you mean these lyrics! Aren’t they so cute?! Don’t you just love the font and the color, and, personally, I think the placement is really well strategized. The way it moves diagonally across the waist totally brings attention our curves. What? They are not dumb! Stacey, like who do you hang out with these days?

Listen here girlie, these lyrics are so inspirational. Maybe you think they are dumb because they aren’t from your list of Top 40 songs playing on the radio. Stacey and I are into more the underground scene, you probably aren’t cultured enough to know about this band anyway.

 Yeah? Well we knew them like way before they were somebody. That’s why we hate the radio, don’t we Stacy, because they are always ruining real artists.

…Stacy what are you talking about? Like, OhMyGod disregard her girls we totally knew about the band BEFORE they hit the big time.

And here we go with the laughter again! Ha ha! You know what? The joke’s on you guys! You know there was once a time when you all thought I was “the shit?” Yeah, that’s right Brittany; you know you were the first one to comment on this picture! Scroll down and see for yourself, you said, and I quote, “OMG Stace! This is totally HAWTT! Luv u!” See? Honestly, I don’t know why I am even like trying to justify myself; I have like twenty-six likes and fifteen comments; including one from Jason. Oh you remember Jason don’t you ladies? The hottest guy in the sixth grade… huh?

Well puberty didn’t seem to treat you that well either sweetie.

 Embarrassing? Are you serious? OMG Stacey, I like officially don’t know who you are anymore. You know what? I’m like glad you found me again, Stacey, and I’m glad I embarrass you because I’m not going anywhere! So you can be “mortified” when all of your old friends, new friends, ex-boyfriends, current boyfriends, enemies, employers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas, and you see me, the “epitome of your awkward stage,” pop up on the screen. I’m here to stay, baby and there’s nothing you can do about-

…Hello? Hello!

What was that?

Where am I?

…Empty trash? OMG no! Stacy, no! Do not empty the-

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Building Character - Mary Stamato

Caitlin is the sort of person who would bite the head off of the class hamster just to prove she could. She struts into the room with purpose and stands in the doorway, hands on her hips, and does an once-over of the room. She pans the room until some unknown criteria is met, pushes her glasses further up the bridge of her nose, and marches to her seat.  Caitlin is always dressed in some hand-me-down fashion that looked like it was handpicked for someone else at Gymboree. You could she her mother’s touch on her like fingerprints on glass: the coordinating pinks, the hair pulled half-up, the sparkling tennis shoes, and frilly socks; all things she couldn't bear to tell her mother went out of style in second grade. She sits at her desk with a straight spine, hands folded in front of her, and feet anxiously swinging below her chair. When the laughter fills the room she immediately goes still and glares at the source of it, Lexi. Caitlin takes in Lexi with her nose in the air, looking in repulsion at her straight hair, sequined tank top, with the matching jacket discarded in the corner of the room, the shorts with writing across the rump, and the flock of girls and boys surrounding her in awe. Caitlin couldn't stand Lexi the way most kids can’t stand vegetables, but it was probably because she knew they were laughing at Caitlin’s round mother who volunteered every Tuesday and Thursday. Caitlin could stand the laughter at her own expense. Caitlin fought back, but her mother was helpless and clueless. Caitlin loathed Lexi for making her mother cater to her every whim, and Caitlin couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger towards her mother for allowing Lexi to push her around. Caitlin knew Lexi was a bully, but in a way, I think she kind of liked Lexi, Caitlin was always up for challenge. 

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Seed Ideas - Mary Stamato

He missed them. Surely there could be nothing wrong with that after all, they had been his only family after his parents’ death, which was also an accident, on the record.  Screw the record; he was off the record, off the grid, off the map! Off his rocker? No. Never. That was unthinkable. He viciously shook his head to chase the bitter thought of insanity out of his mind, out of his ears, out of his blood.

He continued to dig deeper in to the cold earth soft with stale rain. Mud thick as sludge weighed his shovel down making it harder to …thud. Adrenaline darted through his veins as he dove to his knees and began to claw through the mud until he reached the black coffin. He tore the wood apart unconscious of his own blood dripping into the earth. There she was. All the beauty that she had held in life was miraculously preserved in death. He reached down and cradled the back of her skull. He began to gently weep as he leaned into her decaying chest while stroking the clumps of her matted hair.

“Give her to me” said the voice breathing on the back of his neck.

“Not yet, please” he begged, but he knew his time was up. It would not be wise for him to keep the voice waiting. Tenderly raising her body to the ground above, he exchanged the body for his shovel. Whipping tears away, he began to dig once again in search of his fallen brother.

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Six Word Stories- Mary Stamato

Searching Google for inspiration... still searching.

Screams, toppled furniture, loss. Football season. 

I've only done what was needed.