onsdag 24 november 2010

Climbing the Ladder

It´s Three Word Wednesday. The words: advance, pander, shuffle.


Climbing the Ladder

There wasn´t enough alcohol on the table, he thought. He gulped down his latest drink and motioned for another one.

She was dancing. Floating gracefully across the dancefloor in the arms of Rex Higgins, a Navy Officer whose uniform went well together with her sleek Ginger Rogers look.

Higgins escorted her back to the table afterwards. She laughed breathlessly and fanned herself with a menu. She always looked her best a little flustered, it made her seem less intimidating.

”Rusty, honey, having fun?” She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it affectionately.

He took a sip of his new drink.

”I´m having a blast, Eve,” he replied glumly. He was never any good at playing this game; never carefree, gay, manipulative, like her.

She shrugged and turned away. Went off with her Marine, out to ”get some air”, he supposed.

There was still not enough alcohol on the table when she returned, but he was working on it.

She slumped down next to him, still elegant, but her eyes looked haunted. She took one of the roses from the centerpiece and started ripping off its petals. Rip, rip, rip; the sound seemed unnaturally loud.

”Having fun, Eve?” he said mockingly.

”Getting drunk, Rusty?” came the swift reply. Beneath the glamour she was furious.

”Really, Rusty, you agreed to this!” she continued. ”I don´t see how we can get anywhere, advance at all, if we´re not willing to work for it!”

”I never said I wouldn´t work!” His own anger surprised him. ”I´ll work as hard as anyone, you know that! Just say the word and I´ll go down to Bill tomorrow and ask him for a job. I´m sure we could make a decent living…”

She shuffled the petals from one hand to the other.

”Except decent´s not enough, is it?” He suddenly felt very tired.

"You never listen to me. You have no respect for my opinion!” She sounded like a spoilt child and he couldn´t take it anymore.

”Respect, Eve? I´m no more than a pander and you´re nothing but a …”

She cut him off.

”Stop it, Rusty! I´m leaving!” She stood and collected her things, two ugly red spots on those perfect porcelain cheeks.

She turned to look at him.

”I´m not coming back, you know. Frankly, I think we have different ambitions in life. I´m sure neither of us would want to stand in the other one´s way.”

Rusty watched her leave, her head held high. Despite all, he really wished her well.

On the dancefloor Navy Officer Rex Higgins laughed with another beauty in his arms, pressed against him as they slowly moved to the music.

15 kommentarer:

  1. This was just about perfect. I could visualize it, the tension was palpable, and you gave us everything without anything extraneous.

    SvaraRadera
  2. I´m happy you liked it! And even happier that you´re here to read =)

    SvaraRadera
  3. I don't know if I sympathise with Rusty; wish he would pull himself together instead of drowning in alcohol. And, if Eve is in such a hurry to reach the top, it is best to let her go.
    In other words, I enjoyed the read :)
    Cheers!

    SvaraRadera
  4. Thanks! I´m glad you enjoyed it!

    SvaraRadera
  5. Thank you so much, Michael!

    I´m happy you thought so.

    SvaraRadera
  6. Beautifully captured..never enough alcohol..and never the right opportunity - unless you're called Rex! Great stuff..thanks for your visit..Jae :)

    SvaraRadera
  7. A nice story.. liked reading it.. wel done..

    SvaraRadera
  8. @jaerose: Thanks Jae! I´m glad you stopped by =)

    @Ramesh: Thanks! I´m happy you liked it!

    SvaraRadera
  9. Interesting story. It was easy to get invested in your characters. Well done!

    SvaraRadera
  10. Thank you, Shari! I´m glad you thought so =)

    SvaraRadera
  11. Awesome! I was engaged with your characters. The line "not enough alcohol on the table" doesn't say to me either one is alcoholic; so I'm seeing a red herring here. And I like it.

    Both your characters are vivid; real. I'm drawn initially to Rusty; b/c we're in his POV, and I really want to see that Eve is being a Bitch.

    Character growth what it is, and Rusty being first metioned, I know this is going to be a complicated, involved story.

    I'm ready for the rest of the story. To see how it all comes out.

    Excellent beginning - or middle climbing to an ephiphany.
    ......dhole

    SvaraRadera
  12. Wow! What a fantastic comment! Thank you so much!

    SvaraRadera