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Monday, September 16, 2013

Girls' Weekend

Liz had been editor of the school paper. She’d reamed me over my admittedly mediocre story on the bulldog mascot contest winner.

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.

“When I get out of the hospital,” Liz smiles, flinging herself on the bed. “I might just get rid of my asshole too.” 
  
#

This week's Trifecta Writing Challenge: The entry must be 33-333 words and include the word "rainbow" as defined below:

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

42 comments:

  1. 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.

    Also, your writing is seamless, it does not feel forced.

    GREAT JOB!!

    best,
    MOV

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Best. Feedback. Ever.

      I can't tell you how wonderful this made me feel, MOV. Thank you for the lovely, lovely comment!

      Delete
  2. Well-written- life of these two captured really nice. :-)

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  3. Haha! 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."
    Nice post, as usual.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Melissa. :)

      I'm glad you can relate. Hearing the word "caulk" reduces me to the maturity level of a 13-year-old boy.

      Delete
  4. Love the tee slogan, I know some women who would wear that one. The dialogue feels so real, like eavesdropping on two good friends.

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    Replies
    1. Realistic dialogue is something I value highly. So, thank you for saying that! :)

      Delete
  5. poignant and surprising use of rainbow -- a hard word to use well.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandra! Incorporating this definition of rainbow certainly was challenging.

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  6. This is a wonderfully blunt story that addresses a difficult topic. Well done!

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    Replies
    1. Some words in readers' comments just thrill me to no end. "Blunt" is one of them. :)

      Thank you so much!

      Delete
  7. Sounds like a great way to handle it - cool dialogue, and really good friends

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  8. Strong and powerful post, Ivy - as always, great take on the prompt.

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  9. I 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 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Janna!

      I 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. :)

      Delete
  10. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes. We're all big boys and girls here. ;)

      Truman 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.

      Delete
  11. Funny and real, as usual. Loved it!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! Love that you said "as usual." :)

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  12. Positive survivor stories are always good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew I didn't want this to be maudlin. I wanted to show there can be joy, fun and laughter amid grim circumstances.

      Thanks for reading!

      Delete
  13. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not 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. ;)

      Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed my story. :)

      Delete
  14. 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!

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    Replies
    1. I agree. I think humor should be a mandatory part of a cancer patient's treatment plan.

      Thank you for the wonderful comment! :)

      Delete
  15. I'm willing to supply Mai Tai's again if I can be a BFF too:)

    This 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You got it, girl! :)

      Thank 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!

      Delete
  16. Great story. Very real. I feel I want to get to know your characters. Well written.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, 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.

      Delete
  17. I hadn't considered the comedic potential of the word caulk. Heh heh. Nicely done.

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    Replies
    1. Then you must be more mature than your average 13-year-old. I'm not, so caulk makes me giggle.

      Thank you for the great comment. :)

      Delete
  18. Very powerful in different ways humourous - with a traumatic undertone that is dealt with sowell.

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  19. Excellent dialogue, very believable. Thanks for linking up!

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  20. Replies
    1. Thank you, Sini! I'm so glad you liked it. :)

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  21. I was expecting the end but it still managed to surprise me somehow. kept me engaged. nice one!

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    Replies
    1. I'm happy you were still surprised and that you found the story engaging. Thank you for the kind words!

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  22. Absolutely marvelous!Loved how you turned the "dark cloud " into a story with rainbow hues :-)

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You're so sexy when you comment on my blog.