TINY TUESDAY

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TINY TUESDAY
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Tue, 03-05-2002 - 6:17am

TINY TUESDAY


For this week's Tiny Tuesday, let's try an exercise in describing 'setting.' So here goes: Insert this sentence into your piece, "Here's your change, sir." And describe the surroundings. Have fun, Sammi

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Avatar for jadetigerroses
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Registered: 07-01-2003
In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 9:44am

My TT Untitled


I had been driving along the long stretch of blacktop for almost twelve hours straight. I glanced around hoping to find a city limit sign. I was tired, before I had even started this trip. I had packed up all my belongings and crammed them into my Rodeo. I had no idea what caused me to quite my good job and move on. I would have sort that out later I guess.

The sun was just coming up and I was having a hard time keeping focused on the road. I happened to catch a sign telling me the next town was ten miles out. I struggled with myself to stay awake. “Only five miles now,” I said aloud. The closer the town got the slower the car crept along. Two miles out, I caught a glimpse of the bright yellow arches. I sped along and pulled into the parking lot. Slowly I unfold myself as I step out and stretch my tired and achy muscles. I grab my purse and walk inside.

The tantalizing aroma of coffee wafted through the air beckoning to me. I had to the ladies room to freshen up a bit. With a couple splashes of cold water to my face, I was filling a bit refreshed. I left the bathroom and headed to the counter. I noticed an older gentleman, almost to the door, carrying a bag. I wondered if he was taking it home to his wife or for his lunch. I rounded the corner and ran smack dab into one of the employees. I fell to the ground, as we hit. The commotion made the older man turn around. He walked over to me and helped me up.

“Thank you, Sir,” I said with a smile.

“The pleasure was all mine, Milady,” a thick Scottish accent wash over me, as he smiles and kissed my hand.

The employee tapped the man on his shoulder, "Here's your change, sir."

“Why thank you lad,” He turned back to me, “Are you eating here, Milady?”

“Yes, I will be as soon as I order. Would you care to join me?”

“I would appreciate that a lot Milady. I will grab us a table.”

I walked up and stood in line, the sound of fryers and the scrape of the spatulas on the grill were almost mute to the bickering tones of the customers. I step up to the counter and recited my order to the lady. “I would like the number four meal with the juice and also a large coffee to go with that.”

The lady repeated the order, “That will be five, fifty please.”

I dug in my purse and pulled out the money. I stepped to the side as she took the next order, as I waited for my food. Within minutes my food arrived. I carried the try to the table where the man had sat. We ate our breakfast as he told me about his life.

Have a mystical day,

Jade

Please Pray and Support O

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Tue, 03-05-2002 - 11:34am

Tiny Tuesday: ...(m)


Jerry entered the gourmet shop A-la-mode, irritated beyond belief that he was actually there to buy Brittany yet another gift, when all he really wanted was to end the relationship. The sex has lost it's luster, she's too controlling and self-absorbed! he thought begrudgingly.

He walked through the store with its wooden planks on the walls and the antique brass chandelier lights, past tables that held hand-crocheted doilies and table runners. He ran his hand along the top of an antique dresser as he wound his way through. He stopped and stood in front of a buffet that held several different sizes of satin lined wooden boxes.

"Sir? Can I help you?" A petite brunette with incredible brown eyes stood beside him.

"Yeah," he snapped, looking down at her, then looked away towards the table. "I need to buy one of these." Jerry glanced back, noting that the clerk's smile reached her amazing brown eyes. "Would one of these be appropriate for any kind of gift?"

"Yes. This small one, what we call the bedside box, says friendship." She picked one up and opened it. "It's big enough for a necklace and a ring..." Gazing down at the pearl-blue satin interior, she averted his intense gaze.

Jerry bent over slightly and noted her blush against the wisps of sun-kissed hair hanging around her face. "I'll take this one. Can you wrap it for me?"

"Sure." The clerk smiled at him, leading him to the register. "Will there be anything else?"

"No, thank you." Jerry continued to stare at the clerk.

She punched the amount of the box in, then gently placed the box into a hunter green sack and twisted mauve tissue paper and tucked it into the top of the gift. "Here's your change, sir." She held out the gift sack. "Thanks and come again."

"Do I know you?" Jerry finally managed to ask.

"No," she smiled. "I don't think so." She continued to hold out the sack to him.

"Sorry," Jerry shook his head and took the sack. "You just look like someone I know." Would like to get to know, he thought.

"I get that a lot." She laughed, then stepped from behind the register. "Thanks and come again."

Jerry reluctantly walked away and left the store, determined to meet this woman again...

Avatar for jadetigerroses
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Registered: 07-01-2003
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Tue, 03-05-2002 - 11:58am

That was wonderful Sammi! (m)


I love the part where he says "do I know you?" and the rest that follows. Great job.

Jade

Have a mystical day,

Jade

Please Pray and Support O

Avatar for tankaray
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 12:04pm

My TT: The Change


Enjoy!

Michelle

****

The waiter came by and filled our water glasses as Jack continued to talk about his day at work. Dinner was over and I was unable to eat, and unable to tell him what I had been trying to all evening. Finally I interrupted him.

“Jack, there’s something I have to tell you.”

He looked up at me for what seemed like the first time all night. His dark blue eyes focused on my face.

“Are you feeling okay? You haven’t touched your wine.”

He had noticed that, at least, I thought. No, I hadn’t touched the wine except for a few obligatory sips.

“You look pale, too. What’s wrong, Ellen?”

I wrung my cloth napkin between my hands under the table so he wouldn’t see my nervousness. Finally I plopped it next to my near empty plate and snatched the water glass. After a few guzzles, I placed it back on the table, then dabbed at my mouth.

“I’m fine, really,” I began.

“Well you certainly don’t look it. Should we go?”

I nodded, looking down into my lap. He waved to the waiter to bring the check. He reached across the table and touched my arm, a small gesture meant for comfort.

“Do you want to bypass the movie, then?” he asked.

I was feeling a bit queasy. The smells in the restaurant were making me nauseous. And I was tired. So terribly tired.

“Yes, I’d really just like to go home and lay down.”

The waiter came by and deposited the check next to Jack’s elbow. He reached for his wallet as he looked it over.

“Jack, there’s something I really need to tell you,” I tried again.

He placed the cash on the table and then looked at me. I reached across the table, placing my small white hands on his large masculine ones. The waiter whisked by and snatched it up.

“I’ll be right back with your change,” he said.

Jack nodded, then looked back at me. I must have had a look of seriousness for he leaned in close.

“Now, what is it, dearest?”

“Jack,” I began, my stomach in a knot. “We’ve been together for nearly seven years.”

He sat back then, trying to pull his hands free but I wouldn’t release him.

“Yeah?”

“And you know how much I love you.”

His brows knitted. “Where are you going with this, Ellen?”

“Please don’t interrupt me,” I said.

Then I took a deep breath. I gazed up at him, looking into his deep pools, examining every feature as if for the last time. He was a handsome man, with salt and pepper hair and nearing his mid-forties. I wasn’t sure how he would react when I told him.

“Jack, I’m pregnant.”

His eyes widened in surprise and his eyebrows shot up, crinkling his forehead. He pulled his hands away.

“You’re . . . ” His voice trailed off.

“It’s a surprise to me, too,” I said quickly. And then the words came rushing out. “I had no idea what was wrong with me. I thought it was the flu. But who gets the flu in August? And then I realized I was, you know . . . late . . . so I thought I had better take a test just to be sure. It came out positive. I have it with me if you want to see.”

“That won’t be necessary.” He put up a hand.

“Are you . . . upset?”

Just then the waiter appeared.

“Here’s your change, sir.”

Jack stared down at the coins and bills, his face an absent mask. Then he looked back at me.

“I’m going to be a . . . dad?” he asked in a small voice.

“Yes. You are.”

He smiled, reached for my hand and squeezed it. It was signal that everything was all right.

Michelle, co-cl for The Writing Life
Life is short. Buy the shoes.
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Avatar for tankaray
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Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 12:06pm

So what happens?!? lol Very nice! (n/t)


Michelle, co-cl for The Writing Life
Life is short. Buy the shoes.
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Avatar for jadetigerroses
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Registered: 07-01-2003
In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 12:07pm

Oh that was so sweet.... Thanks for sharing it with us. *nt*


Have a mystical day,

Jade

Please Pray and Support O

Avatar for portraitinflesh
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Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 5:12pm

TT (on a Tuesday for once)


The great thing about going to school in the downtown Financial District is that you’re within walking distance of some really great restaurants. The bad thing is that these restaurants are also within walking distance for a couple hundred other people. And although we have different backgrounds, futures, hopes, fears, and tolerance levels for panhandlers, we all seem to have the same exact lunch hour.

Not that I ever have enough time during the day to go to a “fancy” restaurant, let alone the resources to do so. My student budget never seems to cover quite enough. Which is why I count my blessings that I found the take-out window at Donald Duk’s.

According to a little blurb on the menu pasted outside the door, Donald Duk is in fact his real name. However, Mr. Duk hasn’t personally run any of his restaurants ever since his daughter received her MBE back in 1987. At any rate, you’ll have to travel ten blocks uphill to Chinatown proper to find dim sum that is as good as what you’ll get at Donald Duk’s.

Donald Duk’s is in fact two fairly separate entities. There’s a posh seating area for power lunches with clients. The waiters all look properly somber and there’s lots of lacquered wood. And then there’s the small group of ten plastic tables and the take-out window for those like me who just want a quick and simple bite to eat.

It isn’t actually a take-out window per se. It’s actually more of a take-out room. Most of the room is taken up with a kitchen/food preparation area. There’s a small counter that runs along the length of it. Brightly colored chunks of plastic molded to look like the various types of dim sum offered on the menu are placed in a glass case to give you an idea of which combo plate contains what. Packed closely together you can fit about fifteen customers in a line that doubles on itself before spilling out past the plastic tables.

The take-out window is only open during peak lunch hours and just before the evening rush hour commute starts. But whenever it’s open, there’s always a line. But it moves pretty fast.

Once you enter the take-out room you’re met with a line headed in the opposite direction toward the cash register. Mrs. Gao is the only person I’ve ever seen working the register, even though her English seems to be limited to the phrase “Here’s your change, sir” and very little else. She uses that phrase regardless if you’re a man or a woman.

With any luck you can be in and out of the line at Donald Duk’s take-out window within about fifteen minutes. And the dim sum you get tastes just as good eaten with a plastic fork as it would eaten with engraved chopsticks.

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Tue, 03-05-2002 - 5:35pm

TT: Where's the Wallet?


Has this ever happened to you? Enjoy,

Eyewrite

****************************************

Where’s the Wallet?

“Whaddayah mean, the prices went up? When did the prices go up?”

Frank snarls at the cashier and thrashes free of the seatbelt. He thrusts his hand into his back pocket.

“Damn!” he mutters. “Where’d I put my wallet?”

He throws the car into park and takes his foot off the brake. He leans over the seat to grab his jacket off the festering pile of fast-food wrappers and empty beer bottles. Bruno wakes with a start and, seeing the jacket whiz past his snout, chomps down on one sleeve with all the might of his pit bull jaws.

“Not tug-o-war, boy, just gimme my jacket.”

Bruno backs into the corner of the back seat and braces his four legs on the cracked vinyl seat. He growls around the filthy sleeve and almost winks at Frank. Frank tugs and Bruno tugs. Frank yanks harder and Bruno growls, spittle flying.

“Not now, boy, I need to find my wallet.”

“Uh, sir?” says the frizzled hair in the cashier booth. “Could you hurry it up? There’s a line forming.”

Frank jams his hands through the front pockets of his jacket, pulling out gum wrappers and gas receipts but no wallet. He pulls open the glove compartment and sweeps the contents onto the passenger seat. Two dog biscuits fly free - Bruno releases the jacket and pounces like a panther on the biscuits.

Frank yanks down his sun visor to grab his emergency beer money. He hands the fifty to the cashier and exhales aloud.

Bruno climbs into Frank’s lap, trying to greet the cashier. His ropey tail whips the debris from the glove compartment onto the floor and his muddy paws mark up Frank’s jeans.

“Here’s your change, sir,” says the cashier, trying to avoid Bruno’s slobber. “Lane Six.”

Frank looks at the coins in her hand, all thirty-three cents’ worth.

“Keep it,” he said.

He puts the car into gear and rolls forward.

“Hope we get the next boat, buddy,” he says. Bruno thumps his tail.

Visitor (not verified)
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In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 6:10pm

Good description of MacDonalds Jade (m)


she's lucky she didn't have kids or she'd have been there forever, trying to get them out of playland. lol

Heather

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In reply to:
Tue, 03-05-2002 - 6:13pm

oh la la Sammi! That was great. (m)


You really made the shop come to life with your details.

Heather

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