This is starting to be a once a month thing…when I planned to make it once a week. So easy to back burner something when you’re really just doing it for yourself.
And I have no illusions about that. Seriously – how many people with blogs are interested in reading each others’ fiction? They’re too busy scanning each others’ poetry so they can leave a comment that sounds like they give a…well – you know what I mean.
But for the three of you who seem legitimately into it, and of course, Mom – I’m back and I’m REALLY going to try to do this one a week.
SO – we last left off with Vivi and Ivy heading upstairs to (respectively) take an aspirin and put on some warm clothes. I found that I needed to put in some technical details for context, so I used up most my allotted post space on that. It may be a little boring – but a good writing exercise I guess.
Want to catch up? You can do so HERE.
As they walked from the elevator to Vivi’s door, they discovered something unexpected. They shared a balcony.
Vivi lived in apartment 5B on the West side of the St. Sebastian. And as it turned out, Ivy and her family lived in 5B on the East side.
The St. Sebastian was split down the middle with a separate entrance on either side of the most hideous piece of modern art that Vivi had ever seen. Honestly, if she had been a resident at the time that particular piece of garbage was installed, it would have been the first and only occasion that she ever gave two hoots about what that bunch of wind bags on the board had to say. But ugliness aside, it hid the mailboxes and served to dissect the building into an East and West side, each with their own elevators.
Apparently, the girl had her own quick mind and practical streak, because the first clear statement she articulated was that if they shared apartment numbers, then they must share living room balconies.
Each apartment had two balconies. One tiny one off of the master bedroom, and one larger one off of the living room. And the living room balconies were stationed at the center of the back wall of the building. Since the East and West sides of the St. Sebastian were mirror images, the balconies were connected and only separated by a thin plaster wall. There was even a slim space between the wall and the railing where one could slip though. While not privacy friendly, it was necessary for the East side residents to be able to reach the fire escape stairs attached to the West side balconies.
Vivi had no idea if Ivy knew anything about why their balconies were connected, but she had obviously noticed that they were. And this led her to the conclusion that she could probably just walk over to her own balcony door and enter her apartment.
Unfortunately, it seemed that her parents were far more responsible than she expected, and the balcony door was locked.
Vivi would be lying if she claimed that she wasn’t disappointed. She wanted nothing more than to curl up on her couch for a cat nap. It was part of the Sunday ritual. Brunch with champagne and then a nap.
And then a phone call from Mama in which she would be required to explain yet again why she had forsaken her God, because she would only be truly at peace with her late husband’s death if she started going to church again and stopped wasting time with those fancy boys who were an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. But that was neither here nor there. Champagne and naps were a luxury to be enjoyed. And Mama’s lectures were just a reality that Vivi learned to tune out long ago.
Who knew what Mama would make of this. She was not exactly known for her rapport with young girls. In fact she would probably do anything to get the child off her hands. Possibly knocking on other neighbors’ doors or perhaps calling Child Protective Services.
But Vivi wasn’t Mama. Regardless of her decision to skip the having kids part of her marriage, she truly did love children.
I’ll pick this back up on Friday and HOPEFULLY, I’ll manage to make it a weekly thing again.
OH – and I’m over at Style Key West today talking about Anne Harwell and what a star she is. Come by and say hello!
I love this character :)
I loved it Kate. And I can't wait to read more – whenever you have the time to write it!
Just got caught up, as I hadn't read these posts before. Fantastic! I already love these characters and wish I could meet them in real life. Can't wait to see what happens next.
I just subscribed to you this weekend and I love this. You have inspired me to pick up writing my short stories again. I can't wait to read more.
I've read them all so far – please do one a week so we can all find out where this is going ;)
i wasn't sure which blog to respond on, oyu've got so many! thanks for stopping by my blog, though. i'm missing summer, too. i can't wait til i can just casualy wear my dresses around without having to match everything up with tights and cardigans, haha. the cold never seems to end!
http://steampunkdolls.blogspot.com/
Ok, I'm all caught up now and enjoying it.
Very nicely written, you set the scene really well. I especially love the bit about the sculpture, it really fleshes out the setting.
I love that you're writing fiction. Go Kate Go!
I've missed Ivy and Vivi. Can't wait to see where you are going with it.
I read this a few days ago and forgot to comment? I hope you keep this up. You have such a way with words and you are a truly gifted storyteller.