The name's Kimberly and Imma use this here blog to publish some of my creative writing and get some feedback on my stories. :P That...pretty much sums it up, so without further adieu, I give you chapter 1 to a story i have yet to title.
Chapter 1
She
wiped the table for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Of course that
was impossible since she’d only been working for 2 hours. The elderly couple that had left not two
minutes ago came by every day for a 6 o’clock dinner. Why
can’t I find love like that? In
frustration she accidentally squeezed too much of the all-purpose cleaner onto
the table. When she heard the drip,
drip, drip of the liquid hitting the floor she knew her boss was watching her.
“Ava!” His pen tapped noisily against his clip board as she approached. He was a large man, with sharp eyes that caught everything, and a voice that would make even lions tremble. “I don’t know what’s bothering you, and quite frankly, I don’t care. I’m paying you to do a job, and if you want that pay then you had better forget whatever, or whoever, is on your mind.” With a flick of annoyance in his wrist he sent her back to clean up the mess she had just made.
If only it were that easy, she thought. She moved mechanically through the rest of her shift cleaning tables, taking orders, and collecting tips. It had turned into a rainy night with puddles and small streams collecting in the parking lot allotted to the small pizzeria Ava worked at. She had worked an extra half hour as a token of apology to her boss, so it was almost 1 in the morning when she finally grabbed her coat and left.
“Ava!” His pen tapped noisily against his clip board as she approached. He was a large man, with sharp eyes that caught everything, and a voice that would make even lions tremble. “I don’t know what’s bothering you, and quite frankly, I don’t care. I’m paying you to do a job, and if you want that pay then you had better forget whatever, or whoever, is on your mind.” With a flick of annoyance in his wrist he sent her back to clean up the mess she had just made.
If only it were that easy, she thought. She moved mechanically through the rest of her shift cleaning tables, taking orders, and collecting tips. It had turned into a rainy night with puddles and small streams collecting in the parking lot allotted to the small pizzeria Ava worked at. She had worked an extra half hour as a token of apology to her boss, so it was almost 1 in the morning when she finally grabbed her coat and left.
***
She
knew they were there before she even pulled into her driveway. A dozen midnight
orchids sat on her doorstep with a deep purple ribbon holding them
together. She stooped to pick them up on
her way in. The red answering machine
light greeted her as she closed the door behind her. Ava sat the flowers by the machine and
crossed to her bedroom. After changing
into an oversized T-shirt and fuzzy socks, she made her way into the kitchen
for some Starbuck’s Ice Cream.
Ava sat down gingerly on the couch and took three deep breaths before finally hitting the button on the still blinking answering machine.
“Ava, it’s me, Leto.” She reached for the machine. “Ava, don’t. Don’t press the button yet, just hear me out.” He knew her well. She took back her hand and occupied herself with the ice cream while she waited for him to continue. “I’m sorry. I know it’s terribly inadequate for what I’ve done, but it’s the truth. I love you, I love you more than anything, and I need you to know that. I-‘please deposit 25 cents for the next 5 minutes.’” Where is he that he can’t use his cell or a house phone? “I’ve got to go, Ava. I do love you, and I’m so sorry.”
Heavy-hearted, she sniffed the orchids. They were her favorite, and Leto had always indulged her whenever he could. “How could he?” She whispered to the flowers. Silence. “That’s what I thought.”
Replacing the ice cream in the freezer she walked back to her bedroom. Knowing her efforts were futile, she climbed into bed anyways. After finally drifting off to sleep, she dreamed of him; his smile, his laugh, and the way his eyes danced whenever they saw her. For the first time that day, she was happy.
Ava sat down gingerly on the couch and took three deep breaths before finally hitting the button on the still blinking answering machine.
“Ava, it’s me, Leto.” She reached for the machine. “Ava, don’t. Don’t press the button yet, just hear me out.” He knew her well. She took back her hand and occupied herself with the ice cream while she waited for him to continue. “I’m sorry. I know it’s terribly inadequate for what I’ve done, but it’s the truth. I love you, I love you more than anything, and I need you to know that. I-‘please deposit 25 cents for the next 5 minutes.’” Where is he that he can’t use his cell or a house phone? “I’ve got to go, Ava. I do love you, and I’m so sorry.”
Heavy-hearted, she sniffed the orchids. They were her favorite, and Leto had always indulged her whenever he could. “How could he?” She whispered to the flowers. Silence. “That’s what I thought.”
Replacing the ice cream in the freezer she walked back to her bedroom. Knowing her efforts were futile, she climbed into bed anyways. After finally drifting off to sleep, she dreamed of him; his smile, his laugh, and the way his eyes danced whenever they saw her. For the first time that day, she was happy.
