Daily writing prompts from June 9th, 2008 to December 31st, 2022
Wednesday October 23rd, 2019
The exercise: Now that I've managed to reach October in my attempt to catch up on comments, we should probably revisit something, huh? Looks like it's House of Mercy's turn for round two.
Hmm, my first though on re-reading what we added this year is that we're setting up for another tale altogether there, which I don't think we can really resolve in one more post (ignoring that I often over-post and you're very understanding about it in your Canadian politeness). I like how you've brought the two women to an understanding about what's needed, and that you've addressed the mammoth task ahead of them. You've done some very fine writing with that last installment, in fact.
Right, let's see what happens next!
Mine: "Who's in charge here?" asked Anne. "That'll be where Cecilie went, she's always interested in controlling things." Julie tapped her fingers on the table, wondering how to answer. Anne watched her for a moment, frowning. "What?" she said. "Am I not going to like the answer? Did... did Babs take over? Did she survive this as well?" Tap. Tap. Tap. Julie mustered her courage. "You've been in charge," she said. Anne tensed. "Me? Oh god, it's worse than I thought. I... I have memories of talking to someone, asking them what to do, how to do it...? Did I...?" "You gave instructions," said Julie. "Which we all followed," she added, hurriedly. Her conscience pricked her. "And I think we all wanted to. Well, I'm not sure we had a choice really, but then neither did you. Cecilie was in all our minds." "Not just our minds," said Anne. "I really, really want to take a long bath and scrub her out of me. I feel filthy, on the inside." She leaned on the desk, and some of the tenseness went out of her. "OK, so if I'm in charge and Cecilie's gone, I guess I need to tell people what to do? And find Cecilie at the same time? I don't think that'll work. So, people will just have to keep doing what they were do--" "No," said Julie. "--ing. What?" "No." She shook her head. "No, when Cecilie was here there was always a voice telling me that what I was doing was right. The others will be like that too. Without her, why would we drug patients and bring them in, and do all the things that we know are wrong?" "Can we close the place down?" Anne's face said she already knew the answer, and her head shook in unison with Julie's. "It's like she planned it, isn't it? She's left, and she knows we can't just walk out and chase her, because of what's left behind." Julie's fingers started tapping on the table again. "Can't we?" "Just abandon everyone?" "If we found Cecilie really quickly, then maybe?" "How likely is that?" The knock on the door startled them both. Anne looked at Julie, who looked at the door. After a moment she managed, "What is it?" in a steady voice. "Security, Jules," said a deep, resonant voice from the other side. The door handle turned, but the lock kept the door shut. "Are you busy? Only there's a bit of a problem with the inmates."
"What sort of problem?" Julie asked after darting a glance at Anne.
"It would be for the best if you came and saw it for yourself." The door handled turned again and was pushed inward but the lock held with ease.
"I'm just finishing something up in here," Julie said. "We'll be out in a minute or two."
"We? Is Anne in there with you?"
Julie gave her friend a confused look. There had been a change in the security guard's tone but she was having trouble identifying it. Anne's only reaction was to slowly shake her head.
"No, no," Julie said, grasping at straws. She was still finding it difficult to think clearly. "I'm just with... a new client. Give us some time and space." Then, remembering that she was supposed to be in charge, she added as sternly as she could, "Now."
"Sure, Jules. I'll be waiting by the front desk. See you soon."
The two women listened to the guard's retreating footsteps before looking at each other again.
"See you soon," Anne repeated softly. "Why did that sound like a threat?"
2 comments:
Hmm, my first though on re-reading what we added this year is that we're setting up for another tale altogether there, which I don't think we can really resolve in one more post (ignoring that I often over-post and you're very understanding about it in your Canadian politeness). I like how you've brought the two women to an understanding about what's needed, and that you've addressed the mammoth task ahead of them. You've done some very fine writing with that last installment, in fact.
Right, let's see what happens next!
Mine:
"Who's in charge here?" asked Anne. "That'll be where Cecilie went, she's always interested in controlling things."
Julie tapped her fingers on the table, wondering how to answer. Anne watched her for a moment, frowning. "What?" she said. "Am I not going to like the answer? Did... did Babs take over? Did she survive this as well?"
Tap. Tap. Tap. Julie mustered her courage. "You've been in charge," she said.
Anne tensed. "Me? Oh god, it's worse than I thought. I... I have memories of talking to someone, asking them what to do, how to do it...? Did I...?"
"You gave instructions," said Julie. "Which we all followed," she added, hurriedly. Her conscience pricked her. "And I think we all wanted to. Well, I'm not sure we had a choice really, but then neither did you. Cecilie was in all our minds."
"Not just our minds," said Anne. "I really, really want to take a long bath and scrub her out of me. I feel filthy, on the inside." She leaned on the desk, and some of the tenseness went out of her. "OK, so if I'm in charge and Cecilie's gone, I guess I need to tell people what to do? And find Cecilie at the same time? I don't think that'll work. So, people will just have to keep doing what they were do--"
"No," said Julie.
"--ing. What?"
"No." She shook her head. "No, when Cecilie was here there was always a voice telling me that what I was doing was right. The others will be like that too. Without her, why would we drug patients and bring them in, and do all the things that we know are wrong?"
"Can we close the place down?" Anne's face said she already knew the answer, and her head shook in unison with Julie's. "It's like she planned it, isn't it? She's left, and she knows we can't just walk out and chase her, because of what's left behind."
Julie's fingers started tapping on the table again. "Can't we?"
"Just abandon everyone?"
"If we found Cecilie really quickly, then maybe?"
"How likely is that?"
The knock on the door startled them both. Anne looked at Julie, who looked at the door. After a moment she managed, "What is it?" in a steady voice.
"Security, Jules," said a deep, resonant voice from the other side. The door handle turned, but the lock kept the door shut. "Are you busy? Only there's a bit of a problem with the inmates."
"What sort of problem?" Julie asked after darting a glance at Anne.
"It would be for the best if you came and saw it for yourself." The door handled turned again and was pushed inward but the lock held with ease.
"I'm just finishing something up in here," Julie said. "We'll be out in a minute or two."
"We? Is Anne in there with you?"
Julie gave her friend a confused look. There had been a change in the security guard's tone but she was having trouble identifying it. Anne's only reaction was to slowly shake her head.
"No, no," Julie said, grasping at straws. She was still finding it difficult to think clearly. "I'm just with... a new client. Give us some time and space." Then, remembering that she was supposed to be in charge, she added as sternly as she could, "Now."
"Sure, Jules. I'll be waiting by the front desk. See you soon."
The two women listened to the guard's retreating footsteps before looking at each other again.
"See you soon," Anne repeated softly. "Why did that sound like a threat?"
Post a Comment