A standing ovation! What a riot- loved the descriptions of Red as "technicolor savior" the nudie cushions, the defunct fog machine! The theater verite' improv for the script (I think I took that same film class!) was classic- I loved the way you had Steve thinking on his feet and gradually winning over the actors and leaving a hanger at the end! Sorry this is late I haven't logged in in a while (2009 is not off to a very good start unfortunately) but can't wait to see where this leads!

Many Thanks guys- You're right about Jake on the bus being a little iffy- love the idea about him being pulled from the stairwell instead- that would have worked better! Glad you got the "ghost" town idea (lol)not many people mentioned picking up on that. Chapter one and two were such fun I thought I'd have a go!
Chloe
p.s. Wolfram- thanks for rounding up! :)

Many Thanks for your feedback and vote Huntsfamouswolf! (at the risk of appearing an idiot-what's broughsy? -lol)

Will have to check out Lulu- would it be a collection of short stories or one story as a mash? intriguing- how's the painting going by the way (hint, hint)
Chloe

Amazing in every way! Government conspiracy, husbands back from the dead! The winner in my book 5!
Chloe

Thanks writer-
I completely missed the Ms. vs Mrs. B (yikes) You're right about the details- sometimes I miss out on the practical aspects of the story - the character carrying too many bags etc. I put the food drive in to sort of juxtapose a stereotype of wholesome Americana with something sinister but it may not have translated that way to everyone. Thanks for your honest feedback- well thought and much appreciated!
Chloe

Many Thanks Dogdeity, glad to have your feedback! This one tricked me up a bit- Haven't seen your name here for a while! Cheers!
Chloe

Thanks guys!- I didn't mean for the mayor to come off so bumbling (oops) The story so far read kind of supernatural to me so I tried to make the children's appearance seem sort of otherworldly- spoooooky! I'll try to polish up my dialogue for next time- good advice, many thanks!
Chloe

Ooh-ooh, I forgot to add David Sedaris- Love Him! I only made it to book two of Harry Potter also, although loved the premise and the fact that it made reading "cool" again! Never read a King- although liked the movie Misery. I wouldn't be embarrassed by not loving pop fiction - popular doesn't always mean "great literature." You obviously have a taste for the classics and there is a reason they have stood the "test of time"
Chloe

Great imagery! I could really sense the frustration, ennui and frantic soul searching of the character. You fleshed out the character so well in just one paragraph. One question- the brick, straw house etc-maybe I was channeling my inner child but it immediately brought to mind the three little pigs! Don't know if that was your intention- guess it could be a good metaphor though- everyone's got a big bad wolf at their door (lol)
Thanks for a good read!
Chloe