So, as a writer, how do you get from there to here? As discussed yesterday in Wednesday Words, it depends on the “style” of writing you’re most comfortable with. Since I’m weird and something of an outlier when it comes to my process, I’m showing you the difference between the “puzzle pieces.” I had two small scenes (and by small, I mean maybe ten words of notes) and then a scene from another #ThursdayThreads challenge. Here’s the sketch: Fiona has a squabble with Bowie and takes off. Second scene: Maura stumbles across Fiona and helps her get home. Longest scene: The crew sitting around Clancy’s telling tall tales. Last week’s prompt **”She had never been there.”** gave me just the inspiration I needed to put the first two together and set up bridge for the third because I had to get Maura to Clancy’s somehow. I hope you enjoy the long version–minus the actual Clancy scene. I have a bit of tweaking to do there.

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Fiona was lost. And a little afraid. There were so many people pressing around her, all talking loudly and jostling. She tried to understand the huge map hanging above her head. Buses. Trains. Which was which and where did they go? She stepped back and stumbled as she knocked into a warm body.

“Oh, mercy,” she cried, whipping around. “My apologies, surely!”
The woman she’d rammed straightened and seeing the tears in her eyes offered a smile. “No harm done.” She gazed about the area, as if looking for someone. “You’re not from around here, are you.”

It wasn’t a question but Fee answered anyway. “I’m not, no. An’ I’m a wee bit lost.” Fiona offered a shy smile. “Well, truth be told, I’m a lot lost.”

“No worries. Where are you going?”

And wasn’t that the question. She’d been angry at Bowie and had slammed out of the apartment. She’d walked all the way to the bay and then foolishly caught a bus, riding until it hit the end of the line. Here in this enormous station that mixed trains and buses and the subway. She couldn’t remember the name of the street where Bowie’s flat was located. She racked her brain.

“I think I’m lookin’ for Telescope Hill.” The lady curled her lips between her teeth in an effort to hide a smile. “Ya ken go ahead an’ laugh. I’m stayin’ with…friends an’ I’m an absolute dolt for not knowin’ the address nor how t’get back there. There’s a place called Telescope Hill an’ I know it’s close. If I could get there, I can find my way to their flat.”

“Could it possibly be Telegraph Hill? Over in Dorchester Heights?”

Fiona considered. “Maybe? There’s a park and a white tower.”

The woman nodded. “That sounds like Thomas Park and the monument.”

“There’s a pub nearby.” Fiona suddenly brightened. “’Tis painted green.”

The woman laughed. “Sorry. That could describe half the bars in Boston.”

“My friend…he hangs there with his mates and his sister works there. It’s called Clancy’s.”

The woman narrowed her eyes and gave Fiona a penetrating look. “Your friend hangs out at Clancy’s?”

The change in the woman’s demeanor scared Fee a bit and she eased back a step. Her instincts screamed for her to run but the woman grabbed her arm. For someone who looked all beautiful and gentrified dressed in her business suit and carryin’ a briefcase, she was certainly strong.

“Let me go,” she whispered, eyes wide with fear.
Maura inhaled to regain some control the moment she realized she’d scared this girl. “It’s okay,” she assured. “I won’t hurt you. My name is Maura Brannigan. What’s yours?”

“Fee. Everyone calls me Fee.”

“I bet that’s short for Fiona, yes?” At the girl’s nod, Maura discovered she was more curious than concerned. Fiona looked healthy, just lost and scared. The fact she was probably fresh off the boat, so to speak, could mean any number of things. “Come with me. I’ll buy you a coffee and we can talk. Then I’ll make sure that you get home safe and sound.”

They stepped into a nearby coffee shop. Maura ordered for them both then settled at a table in the far corner, with plenty of empty tables around it to ensure some privacy.

“Are you safe?” she asked as the girl took a sip of her vanilla latte. She got big eyes in response.

“Dear Mary but that’s good,” Fiona breathed. “I’m thinkin’ this is my new favorite beverage.” Then, she understood the question. Ducking her head, she looked up from under a curtain of wavy red hair. “Yah,” she whispered. “For the first time in forever, I’m safe.” She sighed. “I got mad and took off like an bloomin’ igit.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Bowie’s gonna be so worried.”

Maura pulled out her cell phone. “Do you know his number?”

Tears sprang once more in Fiona’s eyes. She shook her head. “Total igit.”

Knowing she had no choice, Maura punched in a number she should not know by heart, and she ignored the way that heart lurched when a gruff male voice answered, “O’Connor.”

“Are any of your boys missing a sweet little redhead?”

After a muted conversation on Ronan’s end and what sounded like a kerfluffle, the man said, “Where are you? I’ll send a car.”

“I’m quite capable of getting Fee home, Ronan. Besides, she needs to learn the T and the bus system so she can get around.”
“Maura—”

She cut him off. “There’s the T now. Gotta dash. We’ll see you in about thirty minutes.” She clicked off her phone. After all, she had never been there and this was the perfect opportunity to visit the infamous Clancy’s Irish Pub and beard the dragon in his very own lair.

Except, as dragonish as Ronan O’Connor acted, it was always a wolf Maura saw looking out from his eyes.

****

And there it is. A long-winded Thoughts today, but one also prompted a bit by some of the messages from the Universe about inspiration and going for it and stuff like that there. Since I was having the devil of a time figuring out how to Maura to Clancy’s with an excuse for her to go there that would fly in her own mind because she’s doing her best to deny the attraction between her and Ronan. *bwahaha* Anyway, that’s a long-winded example of how a Puzzler’s mind works. I have the whole picture on the cover of the puzzle box. I have all the straight pieces framing the puzzle and now I’m fitting pieces together, a few at a time, before I fit those parts together to make a bigger picture, and adding those larger sections together until the enitre interior is complete. Easy peasy. And I DID mention that I am weird in my process, which definitely drives many writers crazy but works for me. What’s working for you today, writers and readers?