FOUR DAYS A WEEK | Musings | Travels | Stories | Treasures and Dreams

 
 
WITHSTANDING MY FEARS.
I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all. -Richard Wright

FOLLOWING MY DREAMS, because they know the way. QUIETING MY INNER CRITIC, because I am more than my fears. I REACH BEYOND MY GRASP. Doing the thing I never thought I could do. WRITING A HISTORICAL FICTION. Daring to believe I can. REMEMBERING my father's word: TRY.

A special thanks goes out to my readers. Thank you for encouraging me to share excerpts of my MORNING SUN.
-Mia

WIN THE WAR, OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR FAMILY—
A moment from a scene with Manh and his comrades, Khen and Tinh, in
MORNING SUN, a historical fiction and work in progress
by Mia T. Starr and inspired by her father.


It is May, 1954. Dien Bien Phu, Viet Nam.

     On the plane over the valley of death, fear peeks out of Khen's eyes. "Breathe, Manh. Do not make it worse." He steadies my dangling elbow, lays it on my chest. "Keep breathing."

     I try to open my mouth. Panic grips the back of my throat and chokes my voice.

     My rosary.

     Khen cannot hear me.

     Someone--make it stop.

     The shadows and clouds descend around us. Khen’s face disappears.

     My son.

     Father.

     My eyes close against the memories resurfacing, the permanent stain of weakness on my hands. I hear the wheels. Mr. Tran and his creaking cart coming to collect the dead bodies, coming for my father then and now. The wheels are churning louder—

     Re … re … re …

     I run, run to find my mother and brothers. Go to Sai Gon. I pray in the dark and through the pain, through the things I do not want to see.

     Please, God, do not take my family from me.

     Re … re … re …

     The wheels hinged to the cart spin faster, rolling from my village to the cries of boys and men in the valley of death. Rain begins to pour on the blood and battle.

     I am awake with a nightmare, unable to speak, unable to make it all stop.

     RE! RE! RE! RE! RE! RE!

     The plane trembles from the turbulence. Anti-aircraft artillery flies through the skies, misses us by the length of a rocket. Rain smashes against the airplane’s windows. The paratroopers are quiet, restraining their grief and fear.

     The echoes of death below rise and ring in my ears. In the dark I see Chi’s truths come to light. The enemies are marching.

     ADVANCE SOLIDLY! FIGHT SOLIDLY!

     The enemies—slow and steady—attack as a human-wave assault on all sides, strangling our soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, killing our strongest and mightiest. Another wave rise with shovels on the airstrips, pounding the metals into the grounds, digging trenches. DEATH TO ALL WHO OPPOSES US! DEATH! DEATH! They destroy the fields, cutting off our ability to land and reload with troops and supplies.

     ADVANCE SOLIDLY! FIGHT SOLIDLY!

     Thousands more die in the valley. Another hill falls in a battle gone too long, going on its fortieth day. The season of the monsoon approaches and brings with it a doom, salt on an open wound of the earth.

     I scream for my mother and brothers, scream for my family, scream to return to the battlefield. My scream is a soundless cry.

     Our plane lands. My body convulses, and my eyes widen from the shock. To the side of me is Tinh wearing a smile. He grabs his bloody stomach and says, “We are alive.”

     Khen’s face reappears, sweat dripping from his brows.


_ A top story in The Becoming Daily. January 2012.
A top story in Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily. June 2011.
Next week on June 20, 2011, Mia shares parts of her writing application that took her to the steps of the Writing Immersion In Sustainable Tuscany, opening the door to new possibilities.

 


Comments

06/13/2011 8:31am

Breathtaking! Mia this is so moving-I can't wait to read more!! I wish you all the best for Italy-may you be inspired, refreshed and have an incredible experience-
S.

06/13/2011 1:37pm

Yes, I cannot wait to have the whole story! I so admire your perseverance and your progress in following your dream! xo kelly

06/13/2011 6:26pm

Susan and Kelly, I am so touched and honored by your comments on my excerpt. Many deep breaths were taken before releasing my new scene here (there's always that fear that what I had imagined and sought to create through words would fall short). Thank you so much for being here. May you, and the readers, always know you help bring out my best. Thank you for your support, for the cheers and inspiration.

xoxo,
Mia

06/14/2011 7:01am

Action! I can almost hear the director pulling this film together, firm voice rising above the din. I know, it's a book. But you write with the taste and feel of film. The gift of vivid, clean storytelling. I look forward to the next installment! Thanks for sharing this.

06/14/2011 6:45pm

VirtualDavis, thank you so much for reading and sharing your comments. Honored and flattered. Thank you for letting me know I am on the right track. It means a lot to me. I will definitely tweet and keep you posted on the next installment.

Cảm ơn bạn rất nhiều.

-Mia

06/17/2011 8:40am

Mia, this is beautiful, powerful writing! I could get technical about all the things I love about your excerpt, but I'll simply say . . . it took my breath away. Brava!

I know you will be inspired during your writing immersion in Tuscany. Hugs to you, and buon viaggi!

06/18/2011 5:59am

Caron, thanks so much for your heartfelt words. Trying to be a soldier in a battle before my time gave me many moments of doubts about my ability to write the scene above. I always kept my father in mind during that scene, felt him by my side guiding me through the darkness.

As you know so well, the key is to not give up, to always return to the writing chair and to listen to the muse and trust her voice.

Thank you, Caron, for sharing your thoughts on my writing. I am honored that you, Susan, Kelly, virtualDavis, and our new friends on Twitterverse love it. Your comments and tweets on my excerpt mean a lot to me on my writing journey. Am grateful.

With deepest respects,
Mia

Chris
06/23/2011 7:08pm

You are very succinct yet powerful in your descriptions and in the mind of Manh. Each word carries so much meaning and texture, and I sense, that as a writer you choose each word carefully and thoughtfully. You respect and honor your reader. I feel the fear of death in the image of Mr Tran pushing the cart: this is more powerful than acting stating the fear. Looking forward to more.


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