Thursday, May 30, 2013

Write at the Merge: 24 Karat Revenge

My second mistake was wearing those shoes.

My first mistake was listening to Ronnie. 

“Would you do it?” she cooed, her freshly-dyed spikey black hair glistening in the streetlight glow.   Hair that up until yesterday had been styled in a brunette page boy.  Ronnie’s mysterious velvet coated question hung between us for only a few seconds before she answered it herself, by handing me a can of spray paint. Gold Dust.  

Silly me.  I’d thought that when Ronnie called this morning and said she was in the mood to go out, she meant to socialize.  So I’d dressed accordingly, wearing my electric blue spandex dress and 4” leopard pumps.  Instead, we were now sitting in front of her new boyfriend’s apartment building, her ‘65 Chevy convertible parked behind his truck.   She was eyeing it dangerously. 

“He told me he really prefers blonds.” 

She threw the remark at me sideways, scrunching down low in the driver’s seat as I held the can of paint.  It felt more like a grenade.  Her cooing cooled-turned drill sergeant, and a lock of spite colored hair shadowed her face.  “I don’t care what you write, just make it good,” and then she pinned on a final “Pretty please.”

I didn’t like the way this evening was shaping up.  Not one little bit. 

“Why should I?” 

“Well,” her voice was back to cooing.  “For starters, with the way I look, I stick out like a sore thumb.  If somebody sees us, they’ll remember me.  And also, because if you don’t, you have to walk home.” 

She wasn’t kidding. 

My stilettos hit the moon gray pavement, and I teetered over to the pickup.  I felt sick, but what choice did I have?  And then I had an inspirational moment-one of my best, I might add.  As I pressed the little white spray button down-watching Gold Dust letters monogram green paint-I was the very picture of smug.

RONNIE WAS HERE!!!

So maybe I wasn’t ever going to be noticed.  Not the way Ronnie was.  But then again, I wasn’t going to have to try to hitchhike my way home, either.  And by asking me to do her dirty work for her-Ronnie made the biggest mistake of all.

 

 

writing prompt

 

This is piece was written for this week’s prompt at Write at the Merge.

image courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Baby (via Flickr Creative Commons)

19 comments:

  1. Oh fun take on the picture. Also...you have a real knack for picking names that perfectly fit your characters.

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    1. Thanks Lisa! This Ronnie is loosely based on a real life person I knew in college. She really did drive a convertible and once dyed her hair black in spite. It's too bad these people will never know how much they inspire me;)

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  2. I'm assuming the new boyfriend was up to no good? ;)

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  3. She really wasn't dressed for the occasion! Haha. I love the two opening lines. It really caught my interest and set the story up well. I enjoyed this, Valerie!

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    1. Thanks so much Tammy! I came up with those two lines and made them work;)

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  4. Oh oh, Ronnie is in trouble. hahahahaha. Valerie, you are such a talent. I am so glad we are friends/buddies/fellow bloggers and gals. Just gals. If you were Ronnie and I was "me", I would have done your 'dirty' work. hahahahahaha.

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    1. Renae-I'd have done your dirty work too:) Thanks, my friend!

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  5. Ooooh, talk about quick thinking!

    I love your descriptions: velvet coated question, moon gray pavement, and my favorite... spite colored hair.

    This was one of my favorite reads this week :)

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    1. Angela-It's such a privilege to be a part of WOE! I wouldn't be the writer I am without your encouragement:) Thank you so much!!! xx

      And for the record-I loved your piece this week too:)

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  6. Loved this. Great write! :)

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    1. Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words!!

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  7. Fun story to read. Such an engaging beginning and just flowed through to the laughter at the end!

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    1. Thanks Maggie! I had so much fun writing this one!!

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  8. Another fantastic story Valerie! I think we all know someone like "Ronnie" who wants others to do the dirty work. I loved how it ended - talk about "reaping what you sow!"

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    1. Jess, I love it when people are "rewarded" like Ronnie was! I even happier to have you here:) xx

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  9. I've missed you. Keep writing, friend.

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    1. Ditto Tina:) I don't visit as often as I should, but you are never far from my thoughts. Thank you for the encouragement!

      I'm so proud of you, by the way!

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  10. Ha! Catching up after a long reading hiatus... thanks for the giggle!

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