Anyone whose been following my Blog for a while, knows that I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons
As both a Writer and a Filmmaker, it’s been an invaluable way to work/stretch my imagination in all ways Story/Character, especially as a Dungeon Master which I generally am
In early 2018, I began a campaign with/for my girlfriend, and in addition to two other campaigns that we’re in (One she runs, another I run for a group), we’ve ran this first campaign now for 3 years
Kait (My girlfriend) was so inspired by it, she actually began writing a book telling of our beginnings and beyond
Last year she also started a GoFundMe for it, but she’s been so busy with starting her home business, she hasn’t worked on it a lot lately
Last night I found that GoFundMe, and donated $60 in hopes that she will begin writing on it once more
Student, after student, after student run up the several adjoined stairways leading to the campus
Meanwhile, Peter Parker nonchalantly makes his way up the stairs, holding his camera, looking about
‘PETER!’ suddenly he hears his name called out by his High School crush, and friend, Mary Jane Watson…
…and his handsome, dark haired buddy, Harry Osborn
Mary Jane grabs onto, and squeezes Peter, ‘Did you change your mind!’
‘Are you joining us in college this year?’ she finishes…
…her big green eyes blinking with hope
‘Come on Pete, you’re only a year behind us, we can still mess around for the next 3 years’ interjects Harry
‘Nah… Like I said last year, I don’t have the money for that.’
The light goes out of Mary Jane’s eyes
Harry notes this, ‘Ah, come on Peter, I don’t get why you didn’t take one of those genius scholarships,’
‘Hell even my dad Dad would hire you part time working for him, he could use a mind like yours… He’s run into all sorts of delays in his work due to his scientists lack of ability… That would pay enough, and still allow you time to school with us.’
‘Yeah Pete,’ interjects Mary Jane, her hope slightly reinvigorated
‘I really appreciate it Harry… I do, but,’ Peter holds up his camera, ‘I’m a Photo Journalist now… Finally got a gig with none other than ‘The Daily Bugle’
‘Ahhh…’ Harry dismisses Peter with an arm gesture, then steps away, ‘Come on MJ, we’re going to be late… See yah Pete’
MJ’s sad eyes slightly sparkle as she kisses Peter’s cheek, ‘It was sure great seeing you Peter… I’ve… I mean… We’ve missed you’
With a final look deep into his eyes, MJ turns away, and disappears into the last of the students rushing to class
Meanwhile Peter reaches up and touches his cheek, ‘She kissed me’
The hustle and bustle of an extremely busy newspaper…
The ‘Daily Bugle’
And what would the ‘Daily Bugle’ be without the yelling of JONAH JAMESON, the Editor and Chief
This is the energized, relentless environment in which the hopeful Peter Parker enters, his camera in hand, and otherwise totally unprepared
‘Out of my way kid!’ snaps a reporter rushing by
‘Oh… Pardon… Sorry… I–‘ Peter begins to reply, but is cut off
‘YOU, YOU AND YOU!’ Jonah Jameson walks by pointing at Peter and two other photographers who apparently entered the office right behind him
‘Hi,’ says Pete, to no reply
The two of them sneer at the younger Peter Parker, and brush by him, following Jameson into his office
Jameson stands behind his desk, places the palms of his hands against his desk, and speaks
‘Alright, which one of you has something I can take the Web Slinger down with!’
Peter is stunned by the harsh words, as one of the two other photographers slams a photo on his desk
‘Here sir… Spider-Man exiting a T.V. store with a stolen television under his arm…’
‘What! Wait-‘ starts Pete
‘No me sir,’ speaks the other photographer, slamming his on the desk
Jameson picks them both up, ‘One in pajamas… The other is a woman… GET OUT!’ he yells at the other two photographers as he tosses their fraudulent photos to the floor
‘But-‘ one of them attempts
‘OUT!!’ the Chief yells, and the photographers are gone
He then sits behind his desk, lights a large cigar, and kicks his feet up on the desk
Pete is terrified, and overwhelmed, looking down at his photo of a bird
Jameson takes a big hit, and blows the smoke out, ‘Whatya got for me kid, I don’t have all day.’
Peter hesitantly places the picture of the bird on his desk, his hand shaking
Jameson grabs it just as one of his assistants rush into the room with coffee, placing it on his desk
‘A bird?’ Jameson speaks
Suddenly three reporters enter all yelling at one another, and trying to speak to the Chief
‘Hold on, hold on!’ the Chief snaps at them
Meanwhile, Peter, with his tail between his legs, meanders out of the office, defeated
‘KID! GET ME SOME PICTURES OF SPIDER-MAN, AND I’LL PAY YOU $50!’ Jameson yells out to Peter
Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, sits atop a high rise looking down upon the city he protects
On a large banner, a huge picture of him in his costume, holding his thumb up
‘Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’ written In large neon lights below
‘Oh, man… Why does it have to be ‘friendly’… I’m 19 now, I need to get meaner… Like… Wolverine”
He then dismounts from the side of the building, and plummets downward
‘Yeeeeehooooo!’ he yells as he falls, casting a web at the building across the street just in time to pull himself into a swing heading down the street
Launching new webs along the way, but the streets appear to be well this night…
…crimeless
Just before midnight he enters the window of his bedroom in his Aunt Macy’s apartment, slips off the costume, and gets beneath the covers just as Aunt May enters his room
She smiles
‘Goodnight love’ she speaks, then closes the door
Peter lays on his back, staring at the ceiling
‘Tomorrow, the ‘Daily Bugle’… They gotta have some work for me,’ he says to himself, then rolls over on his side and goes to sleep.
