A Thousand Words

This is a companion fic to my other story New Meanings to Old Words: Safe and the subsequent sequels. The stories told here are one-shot snippets that involve the characters introduced there as well as the canon characters from the series.

I would highly suggest reading that fic first before entering into this bit of fun. But if you don't, I hope you still enjoy.

Intro: Years Gone By

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

"But sometimes, if you don't take the time to sit down and write down those words, that shit's just gonna fly out of your brain. Then all you're left with is a bunch of photos of people you can barely recall the names of, sitting with your family and friends. Just starin' back at ya, mad as hell that you don't remember them."

The words echoed in my mind as I sat there holding the small red child's Mario Brother's backpack sitting on my lap. We were in the den of the small house we'd been in for what felt like forever, sitting on the dusty squeaking floor boards, on a rug that had seen much better days. But it, like the rest of the furniture had become as much a part of the house as the walls around us and the floors beneath our feet.

I could hear the shuffling of feet just outside the slightly opened door, and a head poked in. Eyes sliding from me sitting Indian-style on the floor, to the four other figures settled in around me. Two on the floor in front smiling. One half sitting on the large bench of the wooden window seat, a cigarette firmly placed between his lips. The smoke was streaming out the slightly open window and his eyes were on the fields outside. The other was settled into the large arm chair in the corner, across from me. Her legs tucked up under her as she rested her head on her knees.

"You alright?" the voice from the doorway asked with a bit of a chuckle.

A nod was my response. A smile and a nod later and the head was gone from the door way, leaving us to our task.

I pulled one of the old battered spiral bound notebooks off of the stack near me, and set it beside me on the ground. Three sets of eyes watching me. The fourth set, moved from the scene outside to me for just a second before once again settling on the sunny skies and green grass outside.

Opening the zipper of the backpack I couldn't help but smile, it had honestly felt like a lifetime since this thing was last opened. It was filled to the brim, the photos barely contained as I pulled it open. Flicking my eyes up to the two sitting anxiously before me I tipped it over and dumped the photos on to the floor between us.

"Alright," I said putting my hand to my knee and smiling. "Who's first?" Both hands shot up and then the two figures started pushing at each other. I ran my hand down my face and slid my gaze to the chair behind me. She only shook her head and cracked a small smile.

"That's why you draw straws," a new voice said chuckling. I turned to watch him slowly enter the room followed by another smaller figure. He carried a tray laden with drinks, and an ashtray with another cigarette smoldering in it. I laughed a bit, thinking that this old room had been our group's designated smoking section for so long it was almost ridiculous. "Here," he lowered a glass to me and I grabbed it with a smile. Pointing a finger at the figure to my left he winked. "You're first."

"Awww," the other figure pouted as she accepted the offered glass.

"Deal with it," another glass was handed to the man at the window. The tray was settled to the desk and the old rickety chair was pulled out. After flopping down and tossing his feet onto the desk a hand was waved dramatically at me to continue.

I lifted my middle finger to the son of a bitch and then smiled at the boy before me, just itching to grab a photo. I finally nodded and small hands dug into the yellowed Polaroid photos scattered on that dingy old carpet.

The photo was lifted triumphantly, and the boy looked at it in confusion. Raising his eyes to me he cracked a smile.

"Is that Glenn?"

…

AN: Okay, so I wanted to give you guys an idea of what we're doing here. Please don't worry too much about the characters mentioned in the intro. Eventually we'll get an idea of who is all in that room. Where we are.. when we are… but until then just enjoy the snippets.

If you have a suggestion for a snippet that you'd like me to try and write something for send it along. If I get enough maybe we'll open a forum or something to discuss.

Happy reading!