[stylist] Weekly Writing Challenge

[William L Houts]

HI Brigit,

This is really fun.  It puts me in mind of all those occasions, a little 
embarrassing to admit to, in which I've lingered by a door to hear more 
clearly what none-of-my-damned-business was going on on the other side.  
I especially get a sense of recognition as certain alarm words get 
through the door, words like "lawyer" and "the new girl".  And then 
there's the whole sense of your piece: snide, conspiratorial.  Great fun.


--Bill






On 6/7/2015 9:24 AM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist wrote:
> Since I broke my ankle, I am not going out much, so no coffee shop conversation to observe, but I will write about another convo I witnessed.
>
> Conversation drifted from the kitchen. Not quite a whisper, not quite loud enough for everyone to hear. Key phrases pricked my ears. Idiot and divorce and loser on drugs and caused a scene popped in and out of the otherwise buzz-like quality of the conversation.
>
> Like a five-year-old child, I walked towards the kitchen, stopping at the entry. The buzz congealed into solid words and phrases.
>
> "And he did it in front of all the parents. He's such a screw-up. And I told Karen she needs to call the lawyer, but she just won't do it."
>
> "Yeah, but everytime she calls or emails or even texts, the lawyer charges."
>
> Ceramic cups clunk, whispering against the wooden table top.
>
> "I know, but in this situation, it's worth it."
>
> "It's all provoked by the new girl." The tone is low, the voice shifting a bit, as if leaning closer to the other speaker.
>
> "Oh, everyone knows that." A laugh surely joined by a smirk punctuates the sentence. "I was talking to Annie the other day, and Karen got so mad, but I don't care. I told Annie that her mommy is her only mommy no matter what anyone else says. Then we talked about all the evil step-mother's in the fairytales." Another short, padded  laugh highlights the conversation. "I reminded her of all those wicked step-mothers."
>
> A comic gasp fills the conversation followed by a sigh. "But if that gets back to Tom, it could be used against Karen."
>
> "Oh, how would he know?" The voice snickers before sipping, ice chinking against the cup.
>
> "If Annie says something by accident."
>
> A gruff echoes as if the speaker has a cup to their mouth. "I don't care."
>
> "No, but it could look bad for Karen."
>
> "Well," a long pause, "He's such a loser. He doesn't deserve anything." The voice is oozing with chilled sarcasm. Malice almost tinging the edges of the statement.
>
> The only picture in my head is a woman sitting in a rocking chair, knitting her victims names with long, sharp knitting needles, precision detailing her craft.
>
> *Dialogue was retained to the best of my memory.
>
> Bridgit
>
>
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-- 


"Oh, Sophie!  Whyfore have you eated all de cheeldren?"