[Day 6 of 365]:
I wanted to try something a little bit different today and wandered over to one of my favorite quotation websites. I love how the same words can mean different things to different people and have found quotations to be a great source of inspiration for my writing and my life. When I saw this one, I knew it would be a great way to approach the dialog between characters. It was definitely a challenge for me to consider what each person would be thinking and feeling upon meeting each other for the first time — especially if they were opposite in personality.
I’m slowly working in more of the setting & character details, but still having trouble with really showing conflict. However, the words are still coming, so I’m still going to write them. Long Live the Muse –LV
The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. — Carl Jung
Bob had never seen anyone so messy before. He couldn’t believe that someone with such amazing financial resources could have gotten dressed this morning and managed to misplace almost every button on his shirt. The shirt, itself, looked like he’d picked it out of an old Hawaii 5-O episode from one of the bad mouthing drug dealers who gets arrested at the end. The man’s beard was more like a 12 o’clock shadow at 9am and his mousy brown hair stuck up at odd angles.
“Hello, Mr. Brandson,” Bob extended a manicured hand to the messy stranger in front of him. “ I’ll be assisting you with the transfer today.”
“Awesome. Call me Jimbo” He smiled and opened up the zipper on his belly pack to pay for his latte.
Bob sat down at the small brown table and looked around at the other patrons. The Soy del Sol Cafe was packed with a Tuesday breakfast crowd. The smell of what Bob could only guess was vegan cheese wafted to his table — greasy cashews. “Are you sure you want to do this here?”
Jimbo slouched down into the stained armchair next to Bob. “Oh yeah. My friend Suze owns the place, so nobody will kick us out if we hang around too long. Besides, I love their wheat germ and acai mini-muffins.”
Bob sighed and spread out the deed transfer documents on the table. Jimbo put down his sad looking muffin, immediatly spilling brownish coffee and something that wasn’t milk all over the papers. “Shit! Sorry,” said Jimbo. Unfortunately,.Bob’s OCD finally got the better of him and he realized he just couldn’t stand this.
“Thank you Jimbo, for the most disgusting coffee in the world. I think that my firm won’t be able to complete your transaction. You don’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation and the importance of this issue to the other parties. I’ll just have to recommend you find another commodities broker or you consider skipping the entire process. Good Day.”
“Jesus, bub. It’s not like I can’t afford to pay for you pants. Look, I’ll double you fee.” Bob simply stared at him down the bridge of his glasses. “Triple it then. You can call it a clutz clause if you’d like.” Jimbo laughed at his own joke and because Bob looked like a cross eyed idiot with wet pants.
Bob realized that a triple fee seemed to settle his OCD better than the drugs his therapist gave him. “Exactly how do you propose we finish reviewing the documents? They are soaked.”
“Meh, the signature section is totally dry on these two copies. I’m not picky. I’ll sign ‘em right now.” Jimbo puffed his chest out and pretended to straighted his hideous shirt.
“Fine. But I warn you, that we reccomend a full consideration and review of the entire contract including the attached clauses. We don’t want you to agree to anything you don’t really want.”
“Look man, you know I want it and I’m obviously willing to give up a lot for it. I skimmed all the important parts already.”
Bob sat back down while Jimbo finished drying the papers with wads of receycled napkins. Although each set of stapled contracts had multiple sets of light brown splotches, they seemed to be readable thanks to the thick black font. Bob crossed out a few lines in the fee section and noted the change. Jimbo shifted the documents to face him as Bob handed him a pen.
“Thanks” Jimbo felt something on the curved surface of the pen scratch along his thumb but ignored it. Red ink flowed out of the tip as he scrawled his first two initals and last name. Bob quickly switched contracts so Jimbo could sign the second one.
“See,” Jimbo smiled “That wasn’t so bad” He handed the pen back to Bob and noticed that his thumb was actually bleeding. He stuck his thumb in his mouth. “Now can I have it?”
“Absolutely sir.” Bob reached into his glassy black briefcase and pulled out a Homie figurine– a cop holding a half eaten donut. “Here is the original porcelain figure. You are now the owner of the only one in existance.”
Jimbo gently handled the small palm sized figure and smiled like his world was finally complete. He barely noticed Bob packing up the documents into his briefcase and turning to leave. Jimbo only looked up when Bob snapped down the briefcase locks. “Wait, when will you be collecting? I’m on the payment plan, right?”
“Oh don’t worry about that sir. One of my minions will be contacting you in a little while. We’ll get everything we need from you then. Enjoy it while you can,” Bob turned on his heels and walked away, thinking he would definitely be skipping his next shrink appointment. Jimbo barely noticed the lingering smell of sulfer as The Devil walked out.
 |
How would you describe a meeting between two very different strangers who are changed forever by the outcome? |
Comments, links to your writing prompt results, and lurkers are always welcome.
