The lead of my pencil snapped off with a resounding crack, the culmination of my frustration with how my writing was going, so i pushed my chair back a little and took a deep breath, letting the calm notes of the smooth jazz i was listening to sink in.
“Mmmmurgg” i grumbled, the brief respite not sparking any ideas on how to continue forward with the scene, so I tried a different approach, acting the scene out loud like i was directing a screenplay, no dice. I wondered what elements i could add to push the scene along but everything felt too contrived to actually make sense so i dropped that train of thought.
I grabbed a blank piece of paper from the other side of my desk, wadding it up and throwing it into a waste paper basket as i picked up my pencil and rolled my chair over to the pencil sharpener in my studio, but i didn’t stop at it, instead i rolled over to the window to look outside.
Just a few hours ago the day had been bright and sunny but a light rain had descended upon the city, giving a dreary and washed out look to the buildings and cars passing by my studio. Overjoyed i opened the window and let the rain splash on the sill, listening to the sounds of the city muted by the rain and enjoying the light breeze.
I had been cooped up in here for too long i thought to myself, so i closed the window and headed out the door, picking up the book i was writing my manuscript in and heading for the door, only pausing to take my hat and jacket off the rack and put them on.
The transition from the warm colours of my cozy studio apartment to the cold and gloomy world outside was nearly jarring enough to chill my soul but I shook it off acclimating to the new climate with a deep breath and welcoming in the rainy chill.
I meandered down the city streets, generally heading towards the nearest park but not following the quickest route to get there, abruptly changing course when i remembered a nearby points of interest, the mom and pop bakery. I gazed not only at the various cakes and fancy breads but also at the comfortable chairs with cute little tables on each side, one for the wares of the shop and the other for a good book.
I continued staring longingly but stayed outside, knowing that if i did go in i wouldn’t leave for forty five minutes minimum, the lady behind the counter kneading dough making eye contact with me as i perused the various confections of sweet and sour nature. So i gave her a smile and a thumbs up before tearing myself away and walking out from under overhang, the feel of intermittent rain drops truly snapping me away from the warm and inviting smells of the bakery.
The park was a thousand shades of beautifully dull when i arrived, from the water pooling in the slight indent of concrete sidewalks to different colours of the leaves based on their saturation.
I took a seat on one of the park benches and flipped the book i was writing in all the way to the latest page, reading what i had been writing not ten minutes ago but it felt like someone else entirely had written this scene, i could obviously remember physically writing the words and yet they felt strange and alien to me.
A raindrop struck the page pulling me out of my confusion and i pondered for a moment, wondering if it had been such a good idea to bring a book out into the rain like i had.
“If anything it adds more character,” i said out loud, enjoying myself immensely, “maybe when it dries out it’ll look like a dusty old tome i pulled out of an ancient ruin or something! Bah stop getting distracted.”
I forced myself to look back at the page and read the last few sentences over and over again, my focus wavering as my brain tried to find any way out by watching the cars and pedestrians out of the corners of my eyes.
In the end i was simply looking at the words without really reading them, I mean i could tell you what colour cars passed by while i was thinking and about that funny fellow with the upside down umbrella but if i was being graded on my memory of the words i had written down i would get a c minus.
The rain began to fall harder and i finally conceded that the water damage would be too much to continue, snapping the book shut and exiting the park, heading to the closest building i would be able to order food and stay in for a little while.
“Hi welcome to taco bell,” the employee behind the counter said as i walked up to the counter, “May i take your order?” they asked quietly then yawned, “oh goodness, sorry, may i take your order?” they repeated.
“Uhhh yeah i’d like one double decker taco, one cheesy gordita crunch, a fiery Doritos© locos tacos and one order of Doubledilla chicken with chips & salsa.” i replied, already anticipating the tex-mex goodness that awaited me in my visit to Taco bell© today.
“That’s twelve thirty two all total,” they replied and i swiped my credit card completing the transaction. “It’ll be right out so take a seat. Oh! I almost forgot to ask if you wanted a complimentary water with your meal?”
I nodded and they gave me a small cup to take over to the soda fountain where they had various pepsi products like the Classic Pepsi© and it’s diet variant, Mountain Dew© and the ever popular Mountain Dew© Baja Blast™, plus you could get a nice cup of Sierra Mist© or Brisk© and Lipton© teas if that’s more your style, there were of course more options but i think you get that Taco Bell© has a fantastic selection of drinks you can use to quench your thirst as you dine on their amazing (okay even as the author i cannot go that far) tex-mex food.
It was as i was chowing down on my Doubledilla chicken and chips that i had a brilliant realization! I just needed to end the scene instead of stretching it out for an abnormally long time… or add some product placement who knows which.
I stood up from my chair suddenly, all but shouting eureka! as i bolted out of the Taco Bell© leaving my half eaten food sitting on the table, the employee sitting behind the counter sighing and mumbling to a coworker as i dashed out the door
“There they go again, third time this week.”
