“The article’s about a bitch. Doesn’t mean you have to be one,” I’d retorted. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
This is our last hurrah before her big day. As we drive up the coast to Myrtle Beach, I phone Home Depot using the car’s Bluetooth.
“Yes. Hi. I’m looking for some caulk,” I say. “It’s for my friend. She already has white caulk at home. What she really needs is some black caulk. Do you have any black caulk?"
Liz covers her mouth.
“We have several colors,” Home Depot Guy says.
“OK, so she can just come in, point to it and say, ‘Gimme that caulk right now?’”
Silence. “Uh … sure.”
Liz erupts in laughter.
*
We check in and get dressed.
“Look how fast we can be ready when we don’t have to do our hair,” Liz remarks.
Señor Frog's is crawling with overgrown, tight-shirted college guys. About four vodka cranberries in, I look Liz in the face.
“Dump Kyle," I blurt.
“Kyle is …”
“An ASSHOLE," I yell just as the music pauses.
She shrugs. “But I need him right now.”
I return from the bar with three shots and a 6’2” ginger.
“Liz.” I smirk. “Brendan.”
“Hey.” She self-consciously touches her purple wig.
As Liz dirty dances with the underage hottie, she looks so healthy. Since she stopped the chemo, the color has returned to her cheeks.
“I’m done chasing this fucking rainbow,” she’d said.
Brendan escorts us across the street to our hotel. Liz kisses him hard but sends him on his way.
I remove my green wig—shaving my shoulder-length hair was actually kind of liberating—and hand her a gift bag. The T-shirt reads:
YES, THEY’RE FAKE.
MY REAL ONES TRIED TO KILL ME.
MY REAL ONES TRIED TO KILL ME.
“When I get out of the hospital,” Liz smiles, flinging herself on the bed. “I might just get rid of my asshole too.”
#
RAINBOW
[from the impossibility of reaching the rainbow, at whose foot a pot of gold is said to be buried] : an illusory goal or hope
Really strong writing, as usual, Ivy. I always like to read your stories because I am compelled to KEEP reading-- your stories have a way of drawing people in. I didn't want it to end, I wanted to find out what would happen next.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your writing is seamless, it does not feel forced.
GREAT JOB!!
best,
MOV
Best. Feedback. Ever.
DeleteI can't tell you how wonderful this made me feel, MOV. Thank you for the lovely, lovely comment!
Well-written- life of these two captured really nice. :-)
ReplyDeleteHaha! Caulk! I just had to recaulk my shower a few weeks ago and struggled to say it with a straight face. I just forced the L sound so there was no confusion. My brother said, "Geez, just call it Dap or something."
ReplyDeleteNice post, as usual.
Thank you, Melissa. :)
DeleteI'm glad you can relate. Hearing the word "caulk" reduces me to the maturity level of a 13-year-old boy.
Love the tee slogan, I know some women who would wear that one. The dialogue feels so real, like eavesdropping on two good friends.
ReplyDeleteRealistic dialogue is something I value highly. So, thank you for saying that! :)
Deletepoignant and surprising use of rainbow -- a hard word to use well.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra! Incorporating this definition of rainbow certainly was challenging.
DeleteThis is a wonderfully blunt story that addresses a difficult topic. Well done!
ReplyDeleteSome words in readers' comments just thrill me to no end. "Blunt" is one of them. :)
DeleteThank you so much!
Sounds like a great way to handle it - cool dialogue, and really good friends
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bjorn! :)
DeleteStrong and powerful post, Ivy - as always, great take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words!
DeleteI like the silliness between the friends, even with the serious subject at hand. And, a friend who will shave her head for you is a friend to keep! Dropping a loser boyfriend is the best way to lose weight fast. Hope she goes for it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janna!
DeleteI think silliness can be a fantastic coping mechanism. I'm glad the strength of their bond comes through. And, yes, let's hope Liz realizes she's better off without the 190-pound asshole. :)
Fantastic. I love to come here because I know this is the place for grown folks who cuss, cut up and get naked. And I want to read something outrageous and real even if the reality is the fantasy is in my head.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. We're all big boys and girls here. ;)
DeleteTruman Capote said, "You can't blame the writer for what the characters say." A lot of my characters happen to have a potty mouth and a naughty streak. I go where they take me. :)
Thank you for the wicked cool comment. I always look forward to your feedback.
Funny and real, as usual. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Love that you said "as usual." :)
DeletePositive survivor stories are always good.
ReplyDeleteI knew I didn't want this to be maudlin. I wanted to show there can be joy, fun and laughter amid grim circumstances.
DeleteThanks for reading!
Is it odd that I want a three-way BFF charm with these gals? I love their humor. I love the 'underaged hottie'. Too funny. You're good at these, Ivy. Thanks for linking up.
ReplyDeleteNot odd at all. As I was writing this, I was thinking I'd like to hang with these two--especially with all the underage hotties around. ;)
DeleteThank you for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed my story. :)
Haha Underage hottie has a much broader range for some of us. Great dialog and I too love the t-shirt. Humor is hard to come by around the cancer ward, and high priority!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think humor should be a mandatory part of a cancer patient's treatment plan.
DeleteThank you for the wonderful comment! :)
I'm willing to supply Mai Tai's again if I can be a BFF too:)
ReplyDeleteThis was really excellent work Ivy! You made me laugh, and cry and cheer using so few words-and that is what I call talent! Well done, my friend!
You got it, girl! :)
DeleteThank you for such awesome feedback. I love when you stop by because I know your comment is going to make me smile. There's nothing better than a compliment from a writer whose work I admire so much!
Great story. Very real. I feel I want to get to know your characters. Well written.
ReplyDeleteThanks, lumdog. I love hearing that my characters felt real and that you cared enough about them to want to know them better. To me, that's the ultimate compliment.
DeleteI hadn't considered the comedic potential of the word caulk. Heh heh. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThen you must be more mature than your average 13-year-old. I'm not, so caulk makes me giggle.
DeleteThank you for the great comment. :)
Very powerful in different ways humourous - with a traumatic undertone that is dealt with sowell.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Managua!
DeleteExcellent dialogue, very believable. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteEnjoyed the whole ride. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sini! I'm so glad you liked it. :)
DeleteI was expecting the end but it still managed to surprise me somehow. kept me engaged. nice one!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you were still surprised and that you found the story engaging. Thank you for the kind words!
DeleteAbsolutely marvelous!Loved how you turned the "dark cloud " into a story with rainbow hues :-)
ReplyDelete