PROMPTuesday Becomes What the Hell Wednesday

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The brilliantly talented Deb at SanDiegoMomma challenges us to put on our creative thinking caps and bring out our inner Hemingway. The rules are simple:

1. You must write your entry in 10 minutes. This encourages top-of-mind, primal thinking before the ego and judgmental brain kick in. Just set a timer, make your kid count to 600 slowly, whatever. It’s an honor system. And I trust you.

2. Keep to 250 words or less.

3. Please have fun. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Together, let’s rediscover the simple joy in the writing process.

4. Post your submission in the comments OR post in your blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments.

This week's theme is deception. Says Deb, "Write about deception. Whatever that means to you. Can be fact or fiction."

OK, I choose fiction. Because I'm a coward, this is my first PROMPTuesday. I cheated a little, modifying a portion of a story I wrote in a creative writing class to fit the 250 word limit. Be gentle with me, I'm fragile right now. ;^)

When Sydney came home from work, she was surprised to see Travis home early. He was at the kitchen table, apparently engrossed in bills. She kissed him, picked up the mail and started talking about her day, not noticing the look on his face.

“Work has been so hectic with this new account. We’re frantic trying to make deadline. Wow, look at all these RSVP’s! The wedding just keeps getting bigger!”

Sydney stopped talking long enough to realize Travis hadn't said a word. He was stock still, looking back and forth between Sydney and the mail in front of him, replaying the conversation he just had with her mother.

“Babe, what’s wrong? If that’s the Visa bill it WAS an emergency,” she joked, walking back to the table.

Wordlessly, he handed her the paper. She took it, vowing to intercept the credit card statements from now on. When she realized what is was, the color drained from her face, her knees gave and she sat down, hard. Travis broke the silence.

“Were you going to tell me? Or were you going to let me walk down the aisle THEN come clean”

“You’re angry, and you should be. But I can-”

“What? Explain?” he shouted.

“Yes, but-“

“You used to be a MAN! You had a dick! I wanted to marry you, have a family. Now I look like a jackass.” He took his keys and slammed out.

She couldn’t move, think or cry. The creamy vellum envelopes mocked her from the coffee table.

6 comments:

  1. Oooooo!
    Totally unexpected!

    Great Mel! Where's the rest? You should post the whole thing.

    Glad you played this Tuesday (Wednesday!)

    Deb

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  2. Yep, didn't see that one coming at all. Not even close. lol. Well done!

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  3. Wow.
    I had to re-read it a couple of times to understand who was talking to who... but then. It clicked and my eyes got wide. Holy crap lol.

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  4. Sorry Adrienne! I was trying to stick to the 250 word limit. I'll fix it right now.

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  5. WOW! I was not expecting that. Very cool!

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