Writing Challenge: What Happens Next?

[Ian Shergold]

I thought I would have a stab at creating a fun thread.

The objective is to deal with someone else's cliffhanger and then create one of your own.

For example, I could write:

Don Martin had a busy day at work and was looking forward to a nice evening in front of the telly.

Finally, he turned the corner towards his house but...?

The next poster would then deal with that cliffhanger e.g.

instead he was confronted with a street full of fire engines. Staring in shock at what he realized was his burning house, a blackened wife came rushing up to him.

"I'm sorry, dear. I had a little accident with the meatloaf."

Then she/he would create their own which could be completely different.

I hope that makes sense.

$

 

[Ian Shergold]

(OOC: I will start first).

"Oh! Oh!" Cried Elmer Tubbs. He was again to work and was told to report to his manager's office.

"Well, Tubbs. What's the excuse today? That the cat got out? Or you to drive your mother-in-law back to Detroit or is it..". But his boss never finished his sentence because...

 

[Drewk570]

Rage washed over Elmer. Yes, he was late. Yes, he seemed to always be late but life had a way picking on him. Things just ... happened to Elmer. Very inconvenient things and he was fed up.

Before he knew what he was doing he felt his fist connect to his manager's jaw. It hurt his knuckles more than he ever imagined it would. He might have even broken something in his hand. Elmer had never punched anyone in his life so he had no idea what it should feel like. He shook his hand loose as his manager stumbled backward and fell on his ass. "It's Kalmazoo. Not Detroit, asshole," Elmer spat.

Elmer turned and slowly walked toward the door. He reached for the door handle, his hand already red swollen, but never got the chance to open the door.

 

[barefootgirl69]

Stunned at first by the sudden anger in such a usually calm employee, the manager growled and raced around the desk grabbing Elmer by his elbow and spinning him around.

"How dare you! Gather your things from your desk. You're fired! I'll have security meet you there and escort you out!"

Elmer turned and left the office quietly. He could feel the eyes of the ladies in the front office watching him as he passed. As he neared his cubicle...

 

[Bushmaster73]

Heather, the girl in the next cubicle, stood to peer over the partition. Their eyes met and, taking a deep breath, she began to applaud. Before long, everyone on the floor had stood to applaud. Trailing behind, Mr. Oswald, the officious manager, was turning red, and hurling threats at everyone.

"I'm calling the police!" he sputtered. "He'll be arrested --- and if I have to fire everyone on the floor --- "

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, the rage drained out of his face, and he turned a ghostly white: there, at the elevator door....

 

[Ian Shergold]

...was the wife.

"D-dear?". The wind suddenly gone from his sails. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I would pop in and surprise my honey bunny." The fat woman grinned, grabbing her husband by his saggy cheeks and stretching them.

"Ouch. That hurts, dearest.". Oswick Oswald whimpered.

Realizing that his wife was showing him up - again, he quickly started to guide her to his office.

"Er Mr Oswald....?" It was a security guard who had obviously come to find out what the commotion was all about.

"Oh it's nothing, young man." Interrupted his wife. "Oswick is just having one of his tantrums. Just ignore him."

Oswald groaned. "Dearest, please don't..."

"Oh hush." His wife cut in. "Leave the nice people to do their work and let's go into your office. I've got something important to tell you."

And Oswald found himself being pushed backwards into his office, conscious of the smirks on his underlings' faces. Particularly Tubbs.

Once inside his office, the door closed; his wife told him to sit. He obeyed.

"I have an announcement to make." She started. "I have decided to..."

 

[NextDoorSecret]

"take an active interest in Dad's company. I'm tired of it not being nearly as profitable as it should be, of your relentless whining and your shoddy management skills. I've given it some serious thought and you've had more than enough time to turn things around and it's just not happening."
Kate looked at her husband. She was weary of this man. Taking a deep breath, she stated, "Now I'm going to need an office and you can stay or you can go, frankly I don't care anymore."

He stared at her.
When he'd married her seven years ago he had...

 

[Ian Shergold]

When he'd married her seven years ago he had thought she would have been grateful to become his wife. It was not as if anyone else had shown any interest in her. Especially considering how ugly she was, plus she had a personality of a cardboard box.

Truth to be told though he didn't do it for selfless reasons. No, he saw the marriage as a way to advance himself within the firm since it was her dad's.

And at first, it appeared to work as he got quickly advanced up the ladder. But then he found she was not as easily to manipulate as he first thought. And there was her explosive temper. He had lost count of the number of bruises she had given him over the year but he managed to cope by staying as much as possible at the office.

Now that last sanctuary was crumpling.

"Well? Don't just stand there!" His wife barked. "Get it organized or I'll tell Daddy!"

With a 'yes dear', Oswald rushed out of his office and collided with...

 

[barefootgirl69]

Elmer Tubbs.

The box that Elmer was carrying flew from his hands. Everything that was haphazardly stuffed with personal items from his work area crashed down at their feet causing the entire office to come to a screeching halt.

Embarrassed, Elmer...

 

[PapaRomantic]

broke down into tears. He felt as if the entire weight of the world was crushing him, and he couldn't take it any longer. He knew it wasn't "manly" for a man to cry, but at this point, it was all he had left.

He knew he should't have been coming in late, because if he was a manager, he would expect his employees to report to work on time, just as it was expected of him. So how could he tell Mr. Oswald what the real reason for being late was? He knew he shouldn't have punched him, and he realized Oswald didn't have to let him stay, but he felt he needed to tell him the reason for his chronic lateness.

"Mr. Oswald, I know I shouldn't have punched you, and I know I should have controlled my rage, and I will spend the rest of my life apologizing if you will give me a second chance. The reason I am late all the time is...."

 

[barefootgirl69]

"I'm exhausted. I've only been getting 4 or 5 hours of sleep each night because of my other job."

He paused and wondered if he should go on. Elmer knew it really didn't make a difference why he was late, especially if it was because of other employment. Looking around at the other employees who still hadn't started working as they listened to the drama, Elmer said, "We should really talk in private."

Oswald waved him into the supply closet. They couldn't very well go into his office, if it was still his office now that his wife had put her foot down.

"What is it, Elmer? And, hurry up! I haven't all day to deal with you!" He growled.

"Well," Elmer started, "If you fire me here, I might have to tell your wife where I see you several times a week. You see, I bartend over at..."

 

[Aliceinchains36]

"... At Sugar Kane." Oswald's eyes widened in fear at the mention of his favorite strip club. "I'm sure your wife would be very upset to hear about all the time you've been spending with Kitty." Elmer smirked at his boss's terrified expression. Oswald's wife was clearly not a woman to be messed with, and Elmer decided that he could turn this situation to his advantage. "Now, I could explain to your wife why I just lost my job. I could tell her all about Sugar Kane. Or, we could just settle this ourselves. I'm not fired. In fact, I'm getting a raise. Isn't that right boss?" Elmer asked, looking like the cat who just caught the canary. "Yes, of course Elmer! This whole thing was just a big misunderstanding! We don't need to involve my wife. We'll discuss your raise. Tomorrow! I think you should take the rest of the day off. Get lunch somewhere nice." Oswald said with a nervous smile. "That's an excellent idea." Elmer said, clapping his boss on the shoulder. He turned and opened the door to the supply closet, and was suprised to see...

 

[PapaRomantic]

his wife Celeste. Normally a very fine looking woman, for some reason today, she was dressed to give off a "slutty" vibe, and it was working! She was wearing a candy-apple red silk blouse which displayed more than a suggestive amount of her ample cleavage, which wasn't really large, but it stood out on her svelte frame. She had on a black leather skirt that stopped about mid-thigh. Her feet were adorned in three-inch black-strap heals, which lifted her 5'7" body at eye level with Elmer. Even the silver chain necklace and bracelet exuded sexy! She was electric!

Except that Elmer wasn't really noticing her slutty hotness. He was too busy trying to figure out how to explain "coming out of the closet" with his boss!

"Celeste," he meekly said. "What are you doing here, and why are you dressed like that?"

She smiled the smile of a sex kitten and said, "I'm here because...

 

[barefootgirl69]

I just got this notice from the temp agency that Mr. Oswick Oswald was needing some help for a few weeks. So, here I am! I'm so excited. I'll even get to come to work with you, baby, won't that be great?" She put her hand up on Elmer's chest as she spoke. Her nails were freshly painted in a dark shade of red and looked stunning against his suit.

At that moment, Oswald, cleared his throat and Celeste noticed him for the first time. "Why, aren't you Mr. Oswald?" She gave him a seductive smile as she stepped back from Elmer.

Both men were relieved that nothing had been said about the closet, and Oswald quickly stepped around Elmer and took Celeste by the elbow to lead her into his office where...

 

[PapaRomantic]

he got a closer look at her and said, "Do I know you from somewhere else already?"

Celeste denied it, and then walked over to the office chair in front of Mr. Oswald's desk. He watched her walk to the chair. Something about that walk looked so familiar, but he couldn't place where he had see her before.

Then it hit him, he was 99% certain he knew Celeste, as well as where it was that he knew her. There was just one thing he needed to see to confirm it, but how was he going to make that happen?

They were making small talk about the company and about Elmer, and as he started telling Celeste what the responsibilities of the temp job were, he realized how he could find out for 100% certain where he knew this beauty from. "Ms. Tubbs," he said, "would you please go over to the file cabinet on the wall, get the files out of the bottom drawer and bring them to me."

Celeste stood up and seductively walked over the file cabinet, and when she bent over, Mr. Oswald immediately confirmed the identity by which he knew her. As she bent over, she revealed a quarter-sized beauty mark on the back of her right leg, just below her ass cheek.

As she stood up to bring the files, Mr. Oswald said, "Stop right there, don't come any closer. I don't know why you're really here, but I'm afraid you're going to have to go. You see, you may be Celeste Tubbs during the day, but at night, you're..."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

"Kitty," he told her with a weary sigh. For just a moment he had dared to dream that his work life was going to be bearable even with his wife being here, but that dream had just been shattered.

"I don't know what you and your husband are trying to pull Miss Tubbs, but your husband has already blackmailed me into allowing him to keep his job after striking me today because he has seen me looking at you at the place you both work in. If this is another attempt at coercing more money out of me I am afraid it will not work. If I need to I will confess to my wife. After all I have not touched you in any way and a lot of men go to those sorts of clubs to relieve stress."

Under his breath he muttered, "God knows I need to."

Looking at her he smiled. "Still perhaps we could come to some arrangement. If you want your husband to keep his job perhaps you could..."

 

[barefootgirl69]

Before he could finish, Elmer Tubbs walked in and closed the door behind him.

Looking at Oswald, he smiled and said quietly, "Believe it or not, I really had no idea she was going to be here today, but I can't help but think it's wonderful timing. Now, don't go thinking we are going to tell you wife or anything about your late night excursions."

Sitting down in the chair across from Oswald, Elmer waved Celeste over and sat her on his lap. While his hand stroked the inside of her thigh he whispered in her ear. She nodded and stood up to walk to the door but before she left she turned around and waiting.

"Oswald," Elmer started, "I am late every day, and you are simply going to start to over look it. Celeste is going to be working here legitimately, you don't have to worry about that, not unless you want your secrets out." Leaning forward putting his elbows on his knees, he continued.

"I know, you know, and Kitty knows there's been no real hanky panky going on at the Sugar Kane. But, I know a little more. I know about you and Heather."

At that moment, Celeste opened the door and...

 

[PapaRomantic]

Before he could finish, Elmer Tubbs walked in and closed the door behind him.

Looking at Oswald, he smiled and said quietly, "Believe it or not, I really had no idea she was going to be here today, but I can't help but think it's wonderful timing. Now, don't go thinking we are going to tell you wife or anything about your late night excursions."

Sitting down in the chair across from Oswald, Elmer waved Celeste over and sat her on his lap. While his hand stroked the inside of her thigh he whispered in her ear. She nodded and stood up to walk to the door but before she left she turned around and waiting.

"Oswald," Elmer started, "I am late every day, and you are simply going to start to over look it. Celeste is going to be working here legitimately, you don't have to worry about that, not unless you want your secrets out." Leaning forward putting his elbows on his knees, he continued.

"I know, you know, and Kitty knows there's been no real hanky panky going on at the Sugar Kane. But, I know a little more. I know about you and Heather."

At that moment, Celeste opened the door and...

cringed at the sight of the ugly fatness of Kate Oswald, now lumbering down the hall towards her husband's office, wondering why nobody seemed to be working that day. Celeste quickly shut the door, but Kate stuck her fat foot in quick enough that Celeste didn't have time to get it shut all the way. She tried to hold the door, but Kate was way to fat, and she easily pushed the door open, sending Celeste flying into the hands of her husband Elmer.

Kate was enraged. "What the hell is going on here? Why are you all in my husband's office? It's no wonder Daddy's company is being run into the ground! Someone give me an answer, and quickly!!!

She looked each one of the frightened people in the office in the eye, but everyone was too scared to make even a sound.

"If I don't get an answer soon, I'm going to fire the first person that breathes! Who is it going to be?"

Elmer could see that nobody else was going to answer, and he really didn't want to get fired - especially now that he had a free pass to be late every day! Finally an answer came to him. It was a complete lie, but if he told it sincerely enough, perhaps Kate the cow would buy it, and each of them might get off the hook.

"Kate, you're right. You deserve an explanation. We are all in the office because....

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

cringed at the sight of the ugly fatness of Kate Oswald, now lumbering down the hall towards her husband's office, wondering why nobody seemed to be working that day. Celeste quickly shut the door, but Kate stuck her fat foot in quick enough that Celeste didn't have time to get it shut all the way. She tried to hold the door, but Kate was way to fat, and she easily pushed the door open, sending Celeste flying into the hands of her husband Elmer.

Kate was enraged. "What the hell is going on here? Why are you all in my husband's office? It's no wonder Daddy's company is being run into the ground! Someone give me an answer, and quickly!!!

She looked each one of the frightened people in the office in the eye, but everyone was too scared to make even a sound.

"If I don't get an answer soon, I'm going to fire the first person that breathes! Who is it going to be?"

Elmer could see that nobody else was going to answer, and he really didn't want to get fired - especially now that he had a free pass to be late every day! Finally an answer came to him. It was a complete lie, but if he told it sincerely enough, perhaps Kate the cow would buy it, and each of them might get off the hook.

"Kate, you're right. You deserve an explanation. We are all in the office because....

"Your husband has been secretly devising a new plan to shake the company up. I was supposed to play a big part in it but I have not been pulling my weight lately and that is why he was yelling at me this morning. I guess things just got a little out of hand, but with your help things are back on track now."

He smiled at her and then at the others in the room. "At the moment he was just making sure I was ready to get back to work on the plan full time and I assured him I was, even though it meant longer hours at night and maybe some mornings I would have to come in later."

Elmer thought he was pretty slick getting that in there so Kate would think it was all part of some master plan. Now he just needed Oswald to come up with one.

"So Boss tell your wife how this plan goes again."

 

[PapaRomantic]

"Your husband has been secretly devising a new plan to shake the company up. I was supposed to play a big part in it but I have not been pulling my weight lately and that is why he was yelling at me this morning. I guess things just got a little out of hand, but with your help things are back on track now."

He smiled at her and then at the others in the room. "At the moment he was just making sure I was ready to get back to work on the plan full time and I assured him I was, even though it meant longer hours at night and maybe some mornings I would have to come in later."

Elmer thought he was pretty slick getting that in there so Kate would think it was all part of some master plan. Now he just needed Oswald to come up with one.

"So Boss tell your wife how this plan goes again."

Oswald looked first at Elmer (and shot him a little glare), then over at his humongous wife, then at Celeste/Kitty, and said, "Yes......the plan.....the one Elmer is going to start working on again.....well, the plan first calls for anyone to work any hours of the day, as long as they spend the 40 hours per week in the contract. That's why Elmer is planning on being late, because he'll still get his 40 yours. Yes, that's the plan!"

Elmer pushed the envelope a little harder. "And what about the office benefits we talked about?"

Oswald's glare at Elmer was noticed by everybody this time. "Yes...well, we've decided we would open up the office by letting people....well....fraternize personally and privately, as long as both people are willing. We believe a happy office is a productive office."

Elmer's jaw dropped. Where the heck did he come up with that? He noticed Celeste was grinning from ear to ear. But even more fearfully, he could tell that Kate Oswald was ecstatic!

Kate said, "Anybody? In that case, I choose...."

 

[barefootgirl69]

Phil, in Accounting. He's such a gorgeous man, and I just know he will enjoy a little romp in the hay with me."

'Poor Phil' was the thought running through everyone's mind, with an additional 'Thank God it's not me!' in Elmer's. Phil was one of those guys who worked out daily after work and had those washboard abs that most women rave about. Unfortunately, there would be no way he could turn down the boss's wife if she chose to make him her prey.

"Well, dear," Oswald started, "Remember that this is supposed to be a mutual thing. For the benefit of the company." He threw that in there hoping to remind her that the company came first. If Phil decided to find a new job (and who would blame him if Kate was trying to seduce him), then it would throw a wrench in the daily operations. He was a top-notch employee.

Meanwhile, Celeste was looking in his direction while Elmer had visions of Heather up under his desk.

 

[PapaRomantic]

Phil, in Accounting. He's such a gorgeous man, and I just know he will enjoy a little romp in the hay with me."

'Poor Phil' was the thought running through everyone's mind, with an additional 'Thank God it's not me!' in Elmer's. Phil was one of those guys who worked out daily after work and had those washboard abs that most women rave about. Unfortunately, there would be no way he could turn down the boss's wife if she chose to make him her prey.

"Well, dear," Oswald started, "Remember that this is supposed to be a mutual thing. For the benefit of the company." He threw that in there hoping to remind her that the company came first. If Phil decided to find a new job (and who would blame him if Kate was trying to seduce him), then it would throw a wrench in the daily operations. He was a top-notch employee.

Meanwhile, Celeste was looking in his direction while Elmer had visions of Heather up under his desk.

As Elmer made his way towards Heather's cubicle, he heard a shriek from the other side of the office. It was Phil - someone must have texted him a warning that Kate had set her sights on him. He assumed the shriek was in dismay, but turns out Phil followed his shriek with the exclamation "I love fat women!" and made his way back to Kate's office.

Elmer stopped right outside Heather's cubicle opening. He wanted to be smooth as he tried to impress the beautiful and sexy girl with auburn hair that hung down to the middle of her back. She even liked to walk around the office in her bare feet, which nearly made him hard each time he saw it.

Just as he was about to turn in to her cubicle, she came out instead, and nearly ran into Elmer. "I know why you are here, Elmer, and I think you're a great looking guy. But you need to know something. I don't really work for this company. I'm a plant, and I actually work for.....

 

[coachdb18]

'... Xtube! I'm employed by them to look for new office videos for the site, especially those things that happen in the cubicles'.

Elmer was entirel taken back by the fact that Heather had taken to target him as being a target she found attractive enough for this assignment.

She continued...' what I'd like to do is put a camera in your cubicle, and then route some of the girls in the office over, I've heard a number of them have been checking you out anyway'.

Elmer felt himself getting a tightness behind his zipper. Heather took notice.

'See, I think we have a deal!' as she quickly touched his rise and gave him a soft wink!

 

[barefootgirl69]

As everyone left Oswald's office, he found himself alone with Celeste and with a massive headache! Today had been nothing but drama and stress, and he was hoping it would end soon.

Looking over at Elmer's hot little wife, Oswald realized that there was a benefit to all that had happened today. All those nights he had watched 'Kitty' tease him when he couldn't touch her - that was at an end. Here she was and all his for the taking each and every day, if he chose. No one could stop it, not Elmer. not Kate.

"C'mere, Kitty," he said quietly. As she stepped closer with a naughty little grin, he pushed her to her knees.

 

[PapaRomantic]

As everyone left Oswald's office, he found himself alone with Celeste and with a massive headache! Today had been nothing but drama and stress, and he was hoping it would end soon.

Looking over at Elmer's hot little wife, Oswald realized that there was a benefit to all that had happened today. All those nights he had watched 'Kitty' tease him when he couldn't touch her - that was at an end. Here she was and all his for the taking each and every day, if he chose. No one could stop it, not Elmer. not Kate.

"C'mere, Kitty," he said quietly. As she stepped closer with a naughty little grin, he pushed her to her knees.

From her knees, it was clear to Oswald that Kitty's demeanor just changed. The naughty little grin changed to a nasty glare. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kitty exclaimed. "This isn't the Sugar Kane, so I don't have to service you first. Here in this office, I'm Celeste, and you will get on your knees and take care of my needs before I take care of yours!"

With that, she grabbed his belt and pulled him down to his knees. They were two stubborn people, and neither one wanted to move first. So as they stared each other down, they didn't notice when the door opened, and they were discovered by....