This post was written for the Red Riding Hood Prompt. This week's prompt is all about character development.
We'd like you to write about what your character wants most.
We got together back in July 2006. I remember it well. I loved her, and, my God, did she love me. She was in school then and we were inseparable. I worked for her - whatever she was looking for or needed prepared for her classes, I would make sure she'd get it done.
As the Fall approached she began teaching again. I couldn't believe that she got permission for me to come into her classroom with her. It was a whole new role for me, "teacher's assistant", but if that's what she wanted from me, then I wanted to provide that for her. Everyone had questions about the arrangement. Students, teachers, even administrators wanted to know how I was doing in the classroom, if she regretted the decision, what types of things I could and couldn't do. It was cute how proud she was of me, how she would show me off and gush over the simplest of things I did for her.
I was happy that she was writing and that I could be there with her as she began, but at the end of last year, after a year of her being so sick, I, too, fell ill. She couldn't help me in her state and I couldn't help her in mine. We both escaped to our respective quiet hibernation until the time was right.
About a month ago, after her own respite, she found me and rescued me from my solitude. She brought me to professionals who could set me straight again. It worked, and although we were both out of the classroom due to our respective disabilities, we got back to work on her writing. We started blogging together again and, with it, began to feel useful.
We have had such a beautiful love affair. But can she accept that my "lov" is as deep as my "lovE" has always been? The last thing I want to be is another broken thing for her to fix, so I keep hoping, wishing and praying to the Apple gods that my E will come back.
You ask me what I want. It's so simple and yet so complex - I would like 1/26th of the alphabet. One letter, a vowel. It's actually a number, too. On my keyboard it also controls the accent mark. It is all these things, but what's more, it is the key to a seamless relationship of shared joy over the creative process. It's an E and, yes, it is that important.
Ha! I was *so* expecting you to say you wanted her to write you a letter in the mail because you couldn't be together! This took me by surprise. I love how you combined the knowledge of illness and disability with a touch of hope and humor. They swirled together well.
ReplyDeleteI think we've all had a sticky or difficult key at some point, and I know how such a tiny thing can be hugely frustrating. My mother grew up using a manual typewriter, and her finger naturally rests on the "k" key, which means her typing often has a preponderance of that letter lol!
Oh man what a great story I just loved it, your writing is very clever.
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note. I recently replaced the keyboard on my laptop they charge way to much money in my view for slapping in a simple one piece component!
Amy, I am so happy the surprise was still there - I was afraid my pictures would give it all away! As for your mom's typing style, I think that's pretty Kool! In the 21st century, she could have written her own blog and called it something like "Everything is Going to Be All K" or something much wittier with the use of "K' in the title!
ReplyDeleteJen, thank you for your complement. When I read it, I instantly text-ed my husband saying "SOMEONE JUST SAID MY WRITING IS CLEVER!!!!" :)
As for the financial burden of technology issues - I hear you loud and clear - the reason this happened is because most of the guts of my MacBook had to be replaced because I somehow fried some pretty important stuff inside. For days all seemed well, I thought I was typing differently having gotten used to a desktop or something. When I realized what was wrong I was just terrified they would CHARGE ME AGAIN to fix my E!!