First Lines

for my fiction writing workshop we were assigned to write five first lines. five different stories with five different first lines. we passed our work around the class and voted for the favorites from each. numbers two and four tied, but my personal favorite was number three. 

1. The fluorescent light slowly blinks to life, revealing her face in a new way each time, and her eyes, flecked with gold, begin to wander.

2. “How many points for the three-legged dog?” he asked. He let go of the steering wheel, allowing it to find it’s own path that undoubtedly led toward the mangy animal limping along the road. 

3. Since I got a late start on most things in life like getting my first job, falling in love, and having kids, I figured I would live for a pretty long time to finish everything up—I was right.

4. Old Hazel’s illustrious beard grew thick and wild, down to the ground, and served as a storage device for baubles, knick-knacks, and afternoon snacks.

5. Bluegrass hymns flowed from their mouths filling the sad silence with words of hope, sorrow and praise, and each successive note served as a bittersweet reminder of why they had gathered.