How many stories can come from one opening line?

burgy61 · Sep 15, 2007

After reading all the entries into Nathan Bransford’s Stupendously Ultimate First Line Challenge a question came to mind. How many stories can be wrote from one opening line? And what better place then the Water Cooler to try and find the answer. So I came up with this opening line to inspire your imagination, I hope. I'm not looking for the whole story just a paragraph or two showing where you are going with your version.
The rules are simple, try to keep it at a reasonable length, and please keep it clean. But other than that have fun with it.

“If John knew that the path he chose twenty years ago would lead to this, he would have just said no.”

If John knew that the path he chose twenty years ago would lead to this, he would have just said no. It all seemed so harmless back then; pick up an ounce of weed from his dealer and sell some to his friends. He had three friends that were always having trouble finding a bag; that was perfect. He could sell them each a quarter and have a quarter for himself for free. Within a month he was flipping a half pound of weed, six months later he was selling pounds per month. At the end of the first year he was making a good living off the money he was making selling marijuana. From there it was a small step up into the world of cocaine. He bought a kilo from his dealer and it was gone in two days, and he made ten thousand dollars of the coke. He never sold another pound of weed after that, selling cocaine was easier. Now he was sitting in prison for killing his best friend over a drug deal that went bad. Ironically, one of the very friends he was helping out in the beginning.

WittyandorIronic · Nov 24, 2007

burgy61 said:
“If John knew that the path he chose twenty years ago would lead to this, he would have just said no.”

He should have listened to his instincts and fought his father. The family business was politics, but that didn't mean the whole family had to be in the business. The dynasty would have lived on without his presence. Everyone surrounding him projected their ambitions on to him, and he was too weak to resist. He had been too weak all his life. He hadn't told his father no, he didn't want to be a politician, in fact he had barely argued. Joseph was dead, it was inevitable.

"I want to write."

"That's a fine hobby. In fact the publicity could do your career good."

He hadn't told Jackie no, that he didn't want to marry her. He had wanted to marry sweet little Susie Walters.

The clarity of death showed the few key decisions he hadn't made, had let others make for him, and the sham of a life he had been leading.

Regret and blood pooled on the trunk of a dark blue, 1961 limousine.

DeleyanLee · Nov 24, 2007

John the Only

If John knew that the path he chose twenty years ago would lead to this, he would have just said no.

He stood still as he was dressed for the heinous ceremony awaiting in Runnymede, the final day of the worst embarrassment of his life. The servants were quiet, already having felt the edge of his temper this morning.

Twenty years ago, he'd come to London full of himself, having beaten his brother's justiciar and taken control of the capitol. One step closer to the coveted throne of England no one thought he'd have possess, no one thought he deserved. He's coveted it, kissed ass and stabbed backs to gain it, and now that it was his....

HeronW · Jan 6, 2008

“If John knew that the path he chose twenty years ago would lead to this, he would have just said no.”

How could he have known at age six that his next-door-neighbor Patty, at the time, the most imaginative girl he ever knew, beating the heck out of the guys with her fantasy and her fists, would have him at her mercy?

He was on a rack, in a dungeon, obviously in excellent working order by the stench and gory supplies, and John still wasn't sure how he got here.

Komnena · Jan 6, 2008

If John knew that the path he had chosen twenty years ago would lead to this he would have just said no.

It had seemed such a minor thing, that first abandoned kitten. John levered the huge bag of catfood onto the wheelbarrow and headed for the garage. Fifty cats came running from the barn, tripped him and began desperately chewing on the catfood bag.

D.J. · Jan 6, 2008

If John knew that the path he had chosen twenty years ago would lead to this he would have just said no.

However, he would not have had the fun he had experienced in those same 20 years. Unfortunately, he now knows fun is not all that it is cracked up to be - at least on every level. On some of those levels however...

andrewhollinger · Jan 6, 2008

If John knew that the path he had chosen twenty years ago would lead to this he would have just said no.

As it was, the IRS had caught on to the "Island Charity" that his accountant had set up. After years of trying to have kids with his wife Terri, she had conceived. They had thought John was sterile. Turns out, he still was. And now she wanted a divorce, and half the assets before the IRS got them.

His companies workers were on strike after a particularly scandalous OSHA report.

Everything he had worked for was at its end.

He didn't want to make a mess, but he feared pain. Lucky for him his attorney had the perfect solution.

John fingered the pillbox in his pocket. He didn't know what they were called. But he knew it wouldn't hurt.

How many stories can come from one opening line?

burgy61

WittyandorIronic

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

HeronW

Down Under Fan

Komnena

In Honor of Peter Tomich,USS Utah

D.J.

andrewhollinger

practical experience, FTW