All That Glitters

A short story written by Matt Gardner with PlotWeaver: Cards of Creation, a storytelling game made by Mod Hob Cooperative.

This story uses a Frame Tale Plot Pattern, written in 10-minute timed acts with all story cards drawn at random. For more information, visit www.plotweavergame.com

Act 1: Outer Frame Introduction

(Story Element Cards: The Flawed, The Martyr, Living Room, and Drama)

Tom pushed open the door and stepped into the small living room, its warm lamps and worn-in couch doing their best to comfort him. But today, even the cozy glow couldn’t soften the weight on his shoulders. He looked beaten by the world, like someone who’d run out of luck long before he’d run out of hope.

He collapsed onto the couch with a groan.

Two thousand dollars... gone in a stupid card game.

And getting kicked out of the pub on top of it.

He hated himself for it.

Marlene appeared from the kitchen, gentle and steady, the Martyr in his life, always giving more than she should, always sacrificing patience, time, and dreams for him.

“What happened, Tom?” she asked softly.

But Tom heard the sigh beneath it, the hint of disappointment. It cut deeper than he wanted to admit.

“I’m not doing this,” he muttered, staring at the floor. He wasn’t going to confess his failures again. Not tonight.

Marlene recognized the wall he’d put up. Instead of pushing, she sat across from him, folding worry into her hands.

“Tom,” she said, “did I ever tell you how my father lost everything?”