The Phone Call 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkDsDorH9B
Pale sunlight bleeds through the window of the dining room; shadows of lonely tree branches dance across the hardwood floor. It is the hour of dawn, and I have a small pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen. The smell of chicory and cocoa beans wafts around the room, filling the senses with chocolate colored dreams. Soon enough, the world will open up, and people will begin to make their way out of their homes. On their boring commutes to work, or wherever they're going to. The pot beeps. Coffee is ready. Gearing up for the journey to the kitchen isn't always easy. It's because of Tommy. Every step, every different movement is like stepping on a land-mine. And speaking of Tommy, his tiny shadow around the floor. His footsteps patter on the floor. Sounds like the small, rumbling thunder one hears before the rain pours. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFDHDt11Ve
This day is not going to be a when it rains it pours kind of day. Not going to let that happen. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CELnsb6MQ
Three-year-old Tommy who likes to play in toilet water tugs at the over sized shirt that has seen better days. Tommy continues to tug, and at this rate, the shirt will unravel and become nothing more than loose threads splattered on the floor. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrG9CuADGNm
"Ma! Ma! Brek-brek!" He points to his stomach and moves his hands in a circular motion. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAarMpNj5ZK
"It's not time for breakfast, yet, buddy." A sigh. Breakfast is still cooking on the stove. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtoEYOmQdb
"But brek-break now!" His face turns red. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZvbzgBiL2
"You have to wait, little guy." Kneeling. A tender touch on his cheek. He pulls away like the gesture is fire on his face. He bites his hand. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTvug2l7sD
"Please, Tommy, don't bite your hand." 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCzESsMiGf
The cell-phone on top of the counter rings. Looking at the clock, the time reads: 6:30. Who could be calling at this hour? The small trip to the kitchen is thankfully without any screaming or thrashing around from Tommy. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUsb2God0C
"Hello?" 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29p58PKtXg
"Is this Victoria Davis?" The voice on the other line sounds professional. Almost too professional. Could it be what I've been hoping for? 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZJTx1bBSG
A fast heartbeat. Trembling hands. "Yes, this is she. Who is calling?" 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5r8vWeQJC
"Yes, apologies for calling so early. It's an hour ahead over here. We are calling at Tillman Associates to let you know that we've received your application, and after much consideration, we want to interview you in person." 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1JbBzLD1f
Could this be true, and not a dream? This seems too good to be so. Way too good. "You do?" 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdKdDpwJeX
"Yes, of course. Please respond to our email. It will help us if you set up an interview time with one of us." 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡho9DvBv4qe
Lost in the conversation, the world around the house seems to change. A better car. Better house. Nice beaches. Everything begins to make more sense. The strenuous trip to the kitchen seems less so, and Tommy's breakfast is cooled and ready. Tears flow down. This is a dream come true, and it will change our lives if the job opportunity comes to us. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO2k8aNpo2
"Tommy!" 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG1PQyIOeA
"Ma? Ma?" He toddles in the room, slapping his bare belly. He had already stripped out of his clothes. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmHGYgCZu6
"Tommy! We're going to Florida! We're going to Florida!" 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN5qHpMUEX
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A/N: This exercise is exercise #1 and I admit I was reluctant (lol) to even write this. I do it every time I try to write one of these exercises, but I figured that I would do it again because this exercise is always fun for me. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZOmblwHsp
I just wanted to explain that this MAY be a story in the future. I don't know, but I just went with the flow here and began writing. The point of the exercise is to use I, me, or my only twice during the whole exercise. It's not recommended to do this normally with writing fiction, since the word I is definitely a necessity in telling compelling first person prose. But what the exercise does is force the character to become either more aware of the people around them, or their response to certain things, or for them to be more self-effacing. I don't know if I really got that down, but I did try. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC8E9YBwPa
Now I know in the past when I've done this kind of exercise before, I've gotten critiques that my character from the exercise needed to have more of a personality, and that he wasn't putting enough attention on himself. I took that as a compliment since everyone pretty much said that. That's kind of the point of this exercise! It's to get out of the ego of the individual and focus on something else at hand, whether it be another character or an event that the character responds to. 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7Pcvro3UL
If you're willing to see this become a story some day, let me know! 1009Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonLkcWaTrO
I think this certain character is a little more interested in themselves, but I did try to have some kind of self-efficacy there. So with that being said, hoped you enjoyed it.
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