Write On Wednesdays Exercise 9 - Think with Character. Choose a character from your writing posts... Now, think about the character in regards to their: gender, age, occupation, physical appearance and mood at this moment. Is your character in the city, the country, inside or outside? Do they live in rich or poor surroundings? Alone or with others? Answer all, some or one of these questions. Now, set your timer for 5 minutes and write the first words about your character that come into your head. Stop when the buzzer rings...
Suzie is tired. All the time. As mum of two boys, aged 4 and 6, and a girl 10, life has been very difficult of late. She's been running the household on her own since her husband Dave got sick. He's been in the hospital for almost three months now. Some days are good, some days not so. And it is really taking it's toll on Suzie.
25 seems like a lifetime ago. Fresh out of university, Suzie had a promising career in a prestigious city law firm. Then one day she met Dave. They both ran for the same taxi and after discovering they were heading in the same direction, decided to share it. They talked all the way out of the city, and were pretty much inseperable since. He knew all the cool people, and all the 'in' places to go. Suzie didn't stand a chance. All her friends laugh and call it 'Suzie's fairytale'. But don't fairytales have a happy ending?
She has just finished unpacking at the new house. The family was forced to move because they could no longer afford the rent on the big house. Not while Dave is sick and out of work. Besides, it made sense to move closer to the hospital. Driving the two hour round trip from the peninsula to sit with him every day was becoming gruelling for her, and for the kids.
Suzie doesn't like to think about the future. What will happen? Will Dave get well again? Will he once again be able to wrap his arms around her and lift her off her feet. She hated it when he did that... but now more than ever she wishes he could.
Wow! A powerful piece. I want to read more :)
ReplyDeleteI want more. I want to know more about their relationship, and whether Dave will be ok.
ReplyDeleteI so get that wanting him to lift her off her feet, even tho it's something she always disliked. It's like when the kids talk non stop and you wish for peace, then they get ill and listless and you think how wonderful it would be if they could just be themselves. :)
Loved it.
My heart breaks for Suzie...will she get a happy ending?
ReplyDeleteThis is so, so sad. I hope everything turns out for her! This is what is wonderful about this piece, it makes me feel as though she is a real person.
ReplyDelete