Holiday Office Party
I sat uncomfortably on the padded chair. The banquet hall was full of well-dressed people. I barely knew anyone; they barely knew me. I was just the spouse.
"Wow, that was good." My husband finished his slice of cheesecake. "It calls for seconds."
"I agree." The guy across the table--a co-worker--joined my husband in his hunt for more.
I tried not to stare at the woman who'd been left with me. Her makeup was flawless, and she was dressed like a fashion model. I, on the other hand, wore an outfit scored from my local thrift shop. Had I remembered eyeshadow? Lipstick? Foundation? Nope. My skin can't breathe under all those layers of goop. And besides that goop is expensive. I'd rather spend my money on books.
The fashion model across from me used her napkin to wipe off a non-existent crumb. "You live on some small island?"
"Mayne Island."
"Mayne, that's right. It's so remote. I'd feel trapped. Do you enjoy living there?"
I smiled, nodded, and prepared for the inevitable next question.
"Why?"
Yes, that was it. I racked my brain trying to come up with something to say, some way to explain. She already thought I was odd. Answers ran through my mind. I need to live where there are more trees than people... I need peace and quiet... I... "Beyond the breathtaking scenery, beyond the peace and quiet, beyond everything. I enjoy living on Mayne Island because I've found a special place where I belong. The superficial things don't ma--."
Our husbands came back.
"That looks good. I think I'll have some dessert." And she left me in mid-sentence.
How would this story change if I rewrote it to focus on the commonalities between the two women? Do you need to share the same neighbourhood, style of dress, and beliefs to socialize?
2024 in review...
How many manuscripts did I send to publishing houses in 2024? What did I write in 2024? What was my most popular book review? What was my most popular story? What do I plan to write in 2025?
This year I sent 227 manuscripts to publishing houses.
