Edith said, “Easy now.”
“Rob sent me another letter,” Algy told her.
“Did he?”
“He wants me to send him my paycheck.”
“Ohh.” The sound was a cross between a groan and a sigh. Edith went to the cash drawer, counting the money twice over to be sure. Then she asked, “Did you write him back this time?”
Algy grunted.
“You did, didn’t you.”
Slowly Algy nodded. “I said to ask me nicely.”
Edith counted out several stacks of bills, then went into the office for her deposit slips. Returning, she asked, “If he does, what then?”
“I’ll tell him it’s too late. That’s my college money.”
Edith smiled. “Good,” she said. She dropped the deposit in her purse and started for the door.
Algy didn’t follow her at once. “Do you really think Granddad will let me have this place when I’m older?”
Edith turned back. “What did that letter say?”
Algy drew a deep breath. “That you and Granddad would be throwing good money after bad to let the restaurant fall to a big headed fool like me.”
Edith shook her head and held a hand out to her grandson. “He’s the fool to say that.”
“That’s why I told him to ask nicely.” Algy joined his grandmother. He didn’t take her hand, but instead held the door. “It’s why I’m waiting for him to ask again to say no.”
“Good,” Edith repeated. She turned and locked the door .“He just wants to get your goat. He’s got a lot of nerve to ask, though.”
“It’s because he still thinks he’s my father,” Algy told her. “But he’s not anymore, is he?”
“No,” said Edith. “And he won’t ever be again.”
Algy opened the driver’s door for his grandmother before going around to his own side. “Then I don’t ever have to give him my money.”
“You don’t ever have to give him anything at all.”
“Good.”
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The fools over at Trifecta have assigned us the third definition of fool. And I pity the fool who doesn’t rise to the challenge. {ahem. sometimes, the puns will out}
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Jessie Powell is the Jester Queen. She likes to tell you about her dog, her kids, her fiction, and her blog, but not necessarily in that order. |
I love how these characters have such strong voices in a short time. I clearly get the relationships between them and the history.
I'm glad they come through. I always worry when something is dialogue heavy.
I liked working this out too, Jessie. Vivid. And you have enough 'pauses' in the dialogue. Nicely paced.
Thanks earlybird!
Your dialogue is wonderful. I can 'see' this scene playing out perfectly.
Thanks Tara. I was worried I didn't have enough blocking 🙂
I love how you get such a clear picture of the character who isn't present in addition to the two who are.
I hadn't thought of that! Thanks!
such a sweet relationship between the two. You crafted a lovely scene that is easy to imagine
Thanks, Carrie. The thing I couldn't get in really clearly is that Algy has Down's Syndrome. I couldn't figure out a way to indicate that without falling into prejudice and stereotype. The closest was when the Dad called him a 'bigheaded' fool.
You are making me think I need to get on this prompt thing. You do such good stuff with them, it must be a great exercise!
Oh my GOD it's so much fun. It's also been a great way to identify a blogging community of my own. I could swear I found you through a prompt, though I may have hopped from somebody's "blogroll" or a comment you made
Thanks, Lance! I still don't know that I got quite what I wanted out of it, but I do think the scene works better than I feared when I put it up!
Intriguing set of characters! 🙂