Morning all. Last night I had dreams about snow. Blizzards actually. It was very strange to wake up and find today was going to be in the mid 80s. I was thinking snow boots when I got out of bed. But my brain will adjust. So timers set and lets see about getting into a writing prompt.
I think there are a couple of different ways this could go, but the thing I like is the possibility for characters and potential interactions. Something I may look at more than story line.
Tuesday, October 8th: She held the envelope out to me.
She held the envelope out to me. For a moment I thought about opening it and counting the money. Given all the trouble she caused I wanted to give her that petty moment of annoyance. However I knew the money didn’t come from Janie to begin with. If there was a problem then I would have to take it up with someone else. Given the details, I didn’t really want to do that.
I took the envelope. “Thank you,” I said automatically. A life time of basic manners too ingrained to ignore. I knew my grandmother would approve.
She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. She turned away and tromped with heavy steps down the stairs to make certain I knew what an effort this minor task was. How inconvenient it was for her. I closed the door before she reached the bottom of the stairs, in no mood for dealing with her any more than I had to.
I wondered if she would stop at the bottom of the stairs and look back to see how I was taking the performance. I dismissed the thought. Her approval or disproval meant nothing This would be the last time I dealt with her. I let out a sigh of my own and felt relieved. She had dated my old housemate. Actually dating was too strong a term. He went out with her twice. Once when their dinner was cut short and a second time when he decided she was not his brand of crazy. Those two dates had been a while back and quickly forgotten once he met Farah.
He fell hard, fast and completely. Pretty much everything was forgotten. He had since moved on, packed up and took a job in another state. Farah went with him. She fell just as hard. I went to their engagement party a few weeks prior to their leaving.
Then, Janie stopped by looking for him. I told her he moved, but she didn’t believe me. She refused to believe he was gone. She caused quite a lot of damage in her attempt to find where I hid him or to get me to tell her where he was. I did neither and instead called the cops.
Janie’s father called and asked if I would drop the charges if he paid for the damages. I agreed and asked that he also let Janie know that my former housemate was truly gone and engaged to someone else. He agreed and she dropped off the cash.
Had I known who her father was prior to the conversation I might have been two scared to have the conversation. As it was, I didn’t know of him or his reputation until I made a comment about Janie being spoiled. Then I was enlightened as to her background.
‘Its over now,’ I told myself. And as I would be moving at the end of the month, it would be something I would hopefully never have to deal with. Now that it was done I found myself curious. When we spoke no monetary amount was given. I hadn’t thought that far ahead when the call came and after I was too scared to give a figure. I looked in the envelope. There was a note. ‘To cover damage and for your inconvenience.’ There was no signature and my eyes widened when I looked at the bills the envelope contained.
Ten til Midnight 