My fingers hesitate, lingering uncertainly above the keys of my laptop. I bite my bottom lip and stare at the glowing screen in front of me. The blinking cursor and empty white text box sit blankly, inviting me to fill the space. I stare at the bright white rectangle, my eyes slowly drying and beginning to throb. I brush my finger tips slowly over the keys, feeling their plastic surfaces, hoping that their letters will motivate me to push downward and with a satisfying tapping, fill the gap...but I can’t.
“Have you emailed that woman yet?” My mother’s smooth voice cuts through the silence as she bustles in from outside, balancing large boxes and bags of groceries, blown in by a cold gust of wind. I lean back in my chair, rubbing my sore eyes with the back of my hands.
“Yep, so now we just wait to hear back, she’s really busy, I don’t even know if she has anymore openings, Sarah might be outta luck” I glance furtively at her, unpacking the bags, to see if she is buying it.
“I know, I know” She mutters as she putters around the kitchen, “I just think it would be so great if you two could work together!”
“Yeah...” I sigh, forcing my eyes again to the cursor on the screen, blinking away, mocking me and my lie.
Hmmm...working with my sister...
I immediately imagine three days earlier. Screaming at the top of her lungs Sarah is hurling clothes in my direction, scattering them around my feet, ripping and kicking her way through my laundry.
“WHERE IS MY FLOWY WHITE SHIRT? YOU TOOK IT I KNOW YOU TOOK IT! YOU ALWAYS TAKE MY STUFF! I NEVER SAID YOU COULD BORROW IT!” She bellows.
Be calm
The thought flits across my mind like a fragile butterfly before it is smashed by the giant force that is my rage. My face flushes as the blood pumps to my temples.
“GET OUT OF MY ROOM YOU STUPID HYPOCRITE! YOU TAKE MY STUFF ALL THE TIME YOU! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!” I shriek.
I throw my own possessions back at her, an arsenal of pencils, books, papers, shirts, pants, bras...the cat, before slamming the door shut on her crimson face.
Hmmm...working with my sister...Do I want to add cast iron frying pans to that mix?
I stare at the blank screen once again; the cursor blinks at me knowingly.
The door to the basement creaks as Sarah trots up the stairs. She skips by me happily humming a song which I probably wouldn’t like. She stops mid way between me, at the kitchen table, and the hallway leading upstairs, turns back and makes her way over.
“Whatchhhh’ya doin?” she sings at me
“Emailing Linda for you” I reply
“OH AWESOME! Now I can have money for coffee. Cookie?” she asks, extending the small stack she has grasped in her hand.
I smile, knowing these are a precious commodity, usually coveted and fought over. I take the offering.
“Thanks” I say, taking a bite.
“No probs Bobs” She calls back as she skips away down the hall.
Cookie crumbs fall haphazardly onto my keyboard. I brush them aside and being typing, the steady tap tap tap of the keys slowly filling the empty white space before me on the screen.
Hey Linda, I was just wondering if you still need a dishwasher for weekends. My sister would be very interested in the job she is hardworking and...
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This post made me laugh. My sister and I are like that. It's always ok to fight at home, but fighting at work might be troublesome!
ReplyDeleteI liked that this post was mostly just about you emailing someone, but it has a flashback too, so the structure isn't just a typical linear story.
Your dialouge is really good and sounds natural. In the calm parts sound laid back, the way sisters who are getting along really talk to each other.("Now I can have money for coffee. Cookie?") And the angry parts are very accurate as well (I know from experience!). I liked the use of ALL CAPS in your fight dialouge. The description is also really effective, from how you threw everything at her, to your faces all red from yelling and anger.
Awwww... you love each other and you know it! This a strong piece because it relatable on every level, from the writers block, to the sibling shriek fest, even the end where you help her find a job. Family is still family right? I also think that this reads and develops really well. The reader learns a little more with every line. well done.
ReplyDeleteps. I feel like im a better writer just from having read this
ReplyDeleteHello Meghan!
ReplyDeleteAwesome work as always, I can’t help you with anything, you are too good! However, I can say that your use of vivid description, realistic dialogue, and strong structure really makes for a believable, enjoyable read. Adding in great creative moments like “The thought flits across my mind like a fragile butterfly before it is smashed by the giant force that is my rage. My face flushes as the blood pumps to my temples” just adds to the strong writing fundamentals that you have. I hope I can continue to read your writing in the future, because it just keeps getting better and better!
- Jeremy
Hey, the introduction caught my attention right away good job. This was a very interesting piece and you did a very good job showing how you felt. I really liked the line "I throw my own possessions back at her, an arsenal of pencils, books, papers, shirts, pants, bras...the cat, before slamming the door shut on her crimson face" This made me laugh. You are a very talented writer, Good job.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a great post because I initially thought you were not going to talk about your job, and then eventually it ties into your blog theme. I thought it worked out really well.
ReplyDelete"The thought flits across my mind like a fragile butterfly before it is smashed by the giant force that is my rage." I've probably said this a million times but you have an amazingly strong voice. This sentence was probably my favourite all year. The visual is so clear, yet hilariously angry. You marry a beautiful soft image with a blunt sharp image so well here. You definitely have a skill for really making any story your own.
Best of luck writing in the future!