Her mind pacing, Macy went through the options, as she fought for control. She needed a variation on a theme.
Frank needed to take a leak. They’d been here all stinkin’ day. Gas station coffee seemed liked a good idea earlier in the day, but now he was wishing they hadn’t brought their industrial size thermoses. Yeah. That had been her idea, too. Frank grimaced, as he wondered how the heck he was going to survive his partner.
Shifting his weight while trying to ignore his mostly full bladder, Frank nearly lost control as he saw his partner’s motion out of the corner of his eye. For a minute there, Frank wasn’t capable of walking and chewing bubble gum. Mouth open, he gaped at her.
“Do you mind?” Macy asked, trying to concentrate.
“Shit. Do you have to do that here? Now? And what the hell?”
“Really, Frank, your language? No swearing. We had a deal.”
“Yeah, well, next time warn me you’re going to put your legs behind your head. Shit.” He paused. “Sorry.”
Turning away, Frank tried to get his mind back on the case. That pretzely thing, though, brought back memories of his last cheap date, over three years ago.
He’d figured he couldn’t do any worse with online dating. He was wrong.
He really thought he’d get a keeper that time, he remembered. She said she was a dancer, and he remembered thinking, “Good. This ought to be fun.” He’d heard dancers were bendy. He thought she’d be classy and refined; someone he could actually show off with pride. He never was good at reading between the lines.
This one brought her own, apparently disposable, pole.
And then used his police-department-issued handcuffs to leave him chained to it while she robbed him. Frank’s previous partner didn’t find him until the next day. He’d pissed himself then, too.
Trying to ignore the inevitable, he brought his focus back to Macy. She was one freakin’ weird chick.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is my first entry for week 20 of Trifecta’s writing challenge. You’ve probably figured out I’m up for a good challenge. 😀 And being the way I am ;), I’ve decided to try a challenge within a challenge. This being my second week of attempting it, it looks like it’s a go. Each week will bring a subsequent installment of an ongoing story, writing within the parameters set out by Trifecta.
For the beginning (Part 1) of the story, go to Clean.
For the next part of the story (Part 3) go to Brain.
The guidelines for this week are:
Here, you have an extra day to write and up to 300 extra words to play with. We’re generous like that. This week’s word is cheap.
cheap adj \ˈchēp\
1 a : purchasable below the going price or the real value
b : contemptible because of lack of any fine, lofty, or redeeming qualities <feeling cheap>
Please remember:
- Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
- You must use the 3rd definitionof the given word in your post.
- The word itself needs to be included in your response.
- You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
- Your post must include a link back to Trifecta.
- Please submit your post’s permalink, not the main page of your blog. For example: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2012/03/trifextra-week-eight.html not http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com.
Good job, Tikk Tokk! I am just working on mine now – hope to have it up for tomorrow’s Muse Day Tuesday, but don’t know. You might in the meantime like my entry for The Sunday Whirl, found here:
http://paulatohlinecalhoun1951.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-secrets-in-the-sauce%E2%80%A0/
You have set the “cheap” bar, might high. Don’t yet know exactly the direction I’ll go – poem or story. . .hmmm. Your story was awfully good! Time will tell! 😆
😆 Thanks! I just couldn’t resist the pole…………although there might be some who would argue this particular kind of dancer isn’t cheap on the wallet. 😉
This is one memorable first entry. I mean, how will you top pretzel poses and an abuse of handcuffs in future challenges? 🙂 Obviously I read every word and was riveted. Welcome to Trifecta!
Thank you! Last week after I wrote my second entry, I got to thinking it might be too hard to leave these folks behind. So, this week’s prompt let me know I could work it all together and see what happens…. thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I also tried to leave a comment on your blog, but between open id not recognizing me and apparently not being able to match the words, I gave up. This is, fwiw, my primary issue with Blogger in addition to not being able to subscribe to the comments…….. *sigh*
You’ve got me hooked! I’m loving the story line!
😆 Thanks! Normally I like words more on the reading end, but this one is fun. And Frank and Macy are both so perfectly flawed and interesting that it’s hard to resist writing about them……….. as it turns out, I’m pretty sure Macy has chickens- but I don’t want to ruin the story line. 😉 I just read a book where the main characters inherited a pair of geese, and it just made me laugh, with all their feathery fowl-goodness. *sigh* 😆
entertaining little segment. I like the character of Frank, he seems like a good guy, just a little nieve 😉
Small critique: you open in Macy’s POV then the rest of the piece is in Frank’s. I’d suggest sticking to one since it’s such a short scene.
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂 The last bit ended with Macy, and since I’m writing a challenge within a challenge, it’s all going to work together for the greater good. 😉
Frank, like so many other people, is definitely a work in progress, except I’m not sure he knows it yet. 😀
So disappointing when the reality doesn’t match up to the dream…
Darned cheap dates.
Good entry!
No kidding…….. she was a lot more tawdry than he expected. And robbing him while chained to the pole………. shoot, she coulda at least kissed him or something first. I think he actually did learn his lesson on that one, too. I’m pretty sure he’ll have enough sense to ask “what kind of dancer” next time. 😉 Thanks for the props! 😀
Just seeing that pose makes me hurt…I can barely bend over to tie my shoes!
This was a fun read. Frank has interesting taste in women…he goes from handcuffed to weirdo!
😆 Well, Macy was assigned to him by the department, and since his last partner kicked the can, he didn’t figure he could really argue, since none of the others had stuck. So, he gets the weirdo, if he can survive her…… 😉
Really, I think he’s just marking time until he retires, although that’s still a ways off. Meh.
I laughed when I got to him being handcuffed to the pole. Good work! I’m excited to see where you go with this.
Thank you! Poor Frank. He really did not see that one coming. He really thought she had some kind of strange shower fetish, and was willing to see where it would take him……… 😆
I really loved this – Elements of humor and suspense and regrets.
Thank you! I’m really having fun with this! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
😀 Thanks for stopping by! I can’t say enough good about how much fun I’m having. And it’s nice to know someone besides myself is getting a giggle. 😆
PS- can you see I’m a little sleep deprived? 😆
love the humor in this – poor Frank and his horrible criminal-stripper date 🙂
😆 Poor Frank is right! I think he must be learning, though, because he hasn’t repeated that particular error in judgement again……. 😆
Thanks for linking up with Trifecta. I really, really liked your response. The way you present the inane in such a matter-of-fact way leaves the reader wondering if maybe it’s not normal to have a pretzel woman doing “bendy” things out of the blue, and we’re just not living correctly. The way you came back around to the full bladder was genius. Love it.
{blush} Thanks! A full bladder has a way of reminding us of its presence, doesn’t it?
I think bendiness is totally normal, fwiw. 😆
Ahahaa! Just sitting there in the car with her legs behind her head. “He’d pissed himself then, too”.
Poor Frank.
In Frank’s defense, he only let loose a little this time. I’m sure Macy didn’t even notice. 😉
Well, I finally got mine up tonight, only to find out I was too late! Anyway, if you care to, you can find it here:
http://paulatohlinecalhoun1951.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/theme-less-thursday-7/
Paula