I love William & Mary and can't say enough positive things about the school or my friends here.
I visited my old high school in October. It was a strange experience to say the least. It’s odd when you’ve changed but everything else is still the same. The school is still a cold cinder block castle on a hill, the administration still hates me, and my teachers are exactly the same as when I left. Tyler May and I snuck in the side door as we’ve done a million times because the mean guy in the office wouldn’t let us in the building.
I have a lot to say about my new friends (they're eclectic and funny and gorgeous and brilliant), my romantic relationships (the Czar and I very dramatically had a falling-out, these things always end), my academic pursuits (the first semester of school is over now), and my job (I call alumni and demand donations for the school), but now that I'm writing again, I don't want this to turn into a diary. I'm going to concentrate on pieces of original fiction and poetry, reviews of movies, music, and books, and descriptions of interesting things I learn.
Today's entry was prompted by a stumbleupon page called "Exercises for Fiction Writers". The prompt says: Write a dramatic scene between two people in which each has a secret and neither of them reveals the secret to the other or to the reader. It reminded me of Hills Like White Elephants, a fantastic piece I read in high school.
Bonnie: (taking off her coat as she slides into the booth) I’m so sorry I’m late. I'm always late.
Charlie: (looking up from his coffee) It’s fine! I’m just glad you could make it.
B: It’s been such a tough week. The closer it gets to Christmas, the worse my hours get. I’ve been on my feet for ten plus every day this week.
C: Look! It just started snowing. (He looks out the window) Just look at it coming down!
B: (looking out the window) That’s not snow, it’s sleet. The roads will be hell once we leave here. God, I hope it doesn't freeze when it hits the ground.
A waiter appears- to Bonnie: Can I get anything for you?
B: Sure, I’ll take a coffee. Decaf, please.
C: I think the city is beautiful this time of year. It’s so…alive.
B: I can’t stand it. It’s too cold. Too many tourists, they jack up prices on everything. Hey, have you heard from Denise?
C: Yeah, I got a nice Christmas card from her. She has such gorgeous kids. Why?
B: She and Tom are getting a divorce.
B: She and Tom are getting a divorce.
C: (Nearly spits out his coffee) What?! They seemed so happy!
B: He was cheating on her. With a 23-year-old waitress. He moved out last Sunday, he’s got a little apartment down the street from here, actually. They haven’t figured out custody of the kids yet. She’s a total wreck about it.
C: I’ll bet. I’m so sorry to hear that. You know, love is a beautiful thing. It’s so sad when it doesn’t work out. Makes you want to just go up and ask God why, you know? Like, why do bad things happen to good people?
B: I’m surprised you’re so upset. It’s not like you and Denise were ever particularly close. I mean, she was my best friend in high school, not yours.
C: Yeah, but when you and I were together, we spent a lot of time with her and Tom. I’m sure you remember the double dates we had.
B: Of course I remember. I’m just saying, you’d never really have known her if it wasn’t for me.
C: I guess that’s true. (Pause). I miss you, Bonnie.
B: I live ten minutes away. That’s not even possible.
C: No, I mean I miss us, I guess. I mean, a couple of months ago, when we were at the reunion, and we went home together, it wasn’t just a thing for me. I wanted to, you know, because I miss being with you. And now that I've been thinking about things, it just sort of came into perspective.
B: Charlie…
C: What?
B: I have something to tell you. You need to promise me you can handle it.
C: I have something to tell you too. You first.
I'll post what each person's secret was sometime soon, but I want to give you some time to try and figure it out. Comment if you think you know.
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