Journal #1
Cora and her father sat across from each other at the kitchen table. Around them were the usually pans hanging from the ceiling and a pot of spaghetti working its way to a boil on the stove. The fridge was covered with magnets and pictures ranging from when she was a chubby toddler, up until her graduation from college last year. The windows were lined with lemon colored curtains covered with patterns of tulip outlines. Outside it was getting dark early, the days getting shorter. The table was already set, two plates, two cups, two forks, and two napkins. She was busy finishing an email on her laptop balancing in her lap and her father was fiddling with the sleeve of his blouse.
“Sorry Dad,” she clicked send, “okay done.”
“They’re really keeping you busy there,” he commented.
Cora shut her computer. “Tell me about it,” she laughed. “They’ve already got me practically babysitting this author who usually tries to runaway every time his deadline comes around. They told me to kidnap him and force him to write if I have to, but make sure it gets done.”
“The life of an editor,” he smiled with rosy lips.
“Yep,” she smiled.
They both jumped as the sound of breaking glass shook the room. On the floor was a brick with a post-it duct taped to it. Cora’s father lazily got up and picked the brick up.
“LEAVE NOW QUEER!” It said.
Cora’s father laughed.
“Transvestite, not gay. Can’t any of these people get it right?”
“You smeared your lipstick,” Cora noted.
1 comment:
I love how Cora's father's "blouse" is planted discreetly, nonchalantly, naturally into the text. Her father's transvestitism isn't weird; the brick throw reaction to it is.
In terms of complicating the story, it's neat how the characters defuse the situation, yet we know that it could lead to something darker in the future. How will they work through it?
Nice.
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