Part One, Helena, is HERE
Part Two, Gladys, is HERE
Part Three, Mrs. Statton, is HERE
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It’s just like any other day, Gladys decides as she applies her mascara, lifting each lash to its fullest extent. She fills the arch of her brow and shimmers her cheekbones before taking another sip of her lukewarm coffee.
Except it isn’t really. Today, she won’t be there to pick Helena up from school. She won’t be home to make dinner. And she may not even be back to watch the season finale of True Detective.
Her tummy does a bit of a flip. She smooths down the front of her blouse, smacks her lips and heads for the kitchen. After chucking her half full mug in the sink, she rummages through her purse and manages to round up sixteen dollars. Quickly scrawling something to the effect of get whatever this will buy you for dinner on a piece of scrap paper, Gladys takes one swig from the flask tucked behind the empty fridge and heads for the door.
Lying at the bottom of a stack of paperwork that’s taken me through ‘til nearly lunchtime, I come across a cluster of pages stapled together, sporting a hot pink Post-it. It’s covered with Mr. Crawford’s loosely looped handwriting – Stephanie, You need to read this, he advises. It’s a doozy.
I glance wistfully at the clock on the wall across from my desk. As tempted as I am to dive into the text, I know I don’t have time. I scan my calendar for a prompt on my lunch appointment and am reminded of what an unfortunate name Mr. Anass is for a high school Principal.
As the school Counselor, I’ve seen my fair share of varied troubling data, but have never been passed a student essay before. I sigh. It’ll have to wait. I tuck it into my briefcase, take a sip from my water bottle and set out to Manger Corbeau, where Anass will be waiting. During the drive I muse over the possible scenarios that could have led to naming the restaurant Eat Crow, but fail to come up with anything plausible.
It makes sense that it’s Anass’ favorite place to eat.
And so are we reading the start of your novel? I sure hope so.
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Really, I’m just messing around with no plot or plan, PC. But, I guess I have the power to change that, huh?
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Only you have that power, Hazy!
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Sounds like it could be the beginning of a book. I think you should stick with it and see where the story goes. It has a life (and will) of it’s own, and clearly, it wants to be told…
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The thing is, the post, Helena, was a short story. For me, it ended there…but several people asked for more, so I continued it. Now, I’m in a bit of a slump about my writing in general, and am finding it tough to summon the energy to continue on with a story I intended to go nowhere.
Having said that, I like Helena and think about her when I’m not writing, so I am grateful for the encouragement to bring her out. You never know.
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Well, it’s your story. If you’re only adding to it under duress, then I’d say let it stop. If you feel there’s more to be told and you want to tell it, keep writing. I got your back either way. 🙂
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