I’m going to talk about my new character in just a moment, but first, an apology. Yet again I’ve been a bad blogger. Does this sound like echoes of another entry, um, well, sorry. *blush*

But, and this is where the really good excuse comes in, I’ve been so busy in my regular life. Work was intense for a while, my mom duties involved a lot of driving for spring sports, and I’ve begun a big revision of my manuscript. So…I’ve been a bad blogger. I’m sorry, and if you could see me, you’d see the hang-dog expression on my face. It’s very pitiful. Am I forgiven? Well, am I? 🙂

How about if I proceed with my post about another great character?

Yes? Okay, here goes:

On Saturday, I was parked outside a local Dairy Queen waiting for my son to get his ice cream. I already had my frozen yogurt from another establishment (it sucks getting older and having to choose low fat, low sugar options. Ah, but I digress). Anyways, I was parked out there for a while because there was apparently quite the line inside. While I waited, I looked at a new kids store in the adjacent space. They took the space from Blockbuster after it closed many of its physical locations. I used to go to that Blockbuster pretty frequently.

As I sat in my car, chowing down on my frozen yogurt, I remembered one of the employees. In reality, I think she was a manager, or at least I’m remembering her that way. I thought about her final days in the store, imagining her packing up the videos, sending them back to the main office or some warehouse somewhere. I visualized her saying goodbye to the employees, finishing up her employment by herself, the final arbiter of where stuff goes and what gets thrown away. I imagined her locking the door for one final time, getting in her not-yet-paid-for car, and driving the few miles to her one-bedroom apartment. I could see her setting down the keys for the now empty storefront on her kitchen table, while she poured herself a glass of wine. Now that I think about it, though, she may be a beer drinker. Young, probably about college-aged, and a little rough around the edges. Yes, she’ll be a beer drinker for my purposes. 🙂

Can you picture her, can you see her twisting the long neck of her beer bottle around as she sits in the dark? I can. I imagine her on a balcony, sitting in a cracked plastic chair, contemplating what’s next. I want to believe it’s a chance for her to climb through a different open window, step up into a brighter future, or some equivalent. But what if it isn’t? For every person who takes change as opportunity, aren’t there others who take it as a set back?

For now, this character is sitting on her balcony, twirling her bottle, and thinking. But in the future, who knows where I’ll take her. For good or bad, she’s become another character in my mental file.

Can you think of one that stirs up a story for you?

No? Well then maybe you need a little frozen yogurt, or if you’re lucky enough to still eat ice cream, then ice cream. 😉 Go out, eat, and enjoy. Your characters are waiting.