Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Not That Kind of Girl: Reshaped

Braces slowly reshape Trisha’s 38-year-old mouth. Every three weeks, a stylist shapes her hair into a shiny, red-brown helmet; every other visit, he replaces the color worn away by time. In any room, Trisha's laughs bounces off all four walls and the ceiling before bleeding slowly into the air.

Trisha’s eight-year-old son, Luke, lives in Ohio with his father. He spent the first two summers after the divorce with Trisha and her rich new husband, Jacob, but didn’t want to come back to Chicago any more after that. Trisha agreed, saying “summer mother” was not her color.

Trisha loves sex. She can practically think her way into an orgasm any time, anywhere, even while sitting at her desk at work. Jacob loves this about her. Trisha finds it useful, especially now that the new and shiny has worn off her marriage.

Donald, Trisha’s former boss, stars in most of her stories. Her eyes shine when she says his name and get wet in the corners when she talks about his decision to come out of the closet after 32 years of marriage. She spent years hoping he would leave his wife and now prays he will leave his partner.

Meantime, she has Jacob. And her imagination. They're almost enough.

17 comments:

The Geezers said...

Great story, as always.

What piece of your own story would juxtapose against this one?

Michelle O'Neil said...

Summer mother is not her color!

Love that line!

sc@vp said...

so intriguing.

kario said...

Ooh, fun! Jerri's back! This is great and leaves me wanting to be a fly on her wall for a while longer...

Alijah Fitt said...

Maybe it's time to get 100% behind that passion. Each piece is fabulous. Put them all together, I'd buy that book.

Kim said...

Another character! I love it. Great lines in here.

Carrie Wilson Link said...

Fall, Spring and Winter mother are not my colors! I could do summers, though!

Kim G. said...

Wow! Just caught up on this and your last "Not that kind . . ." Powerful pieces and I agree with others, keep them coming!

Deb Shucka said...

Please don't leave me hanging with Trisha. I need more of her story!

I am really sad for her. "Trisha finds it useful. . . " So much information there.

It's so very nice to have you back, rested and rarin' to go.

riversgrace said...

I had the same question as Mystic Wing - makes me think of you and where this fits in the map of your life, your psyche? And maybe it's enough to find out through these characters, rich as they are.

Go Mama said...

Glad to see you're back at it. Keep going...

Ask Me Anything said...

I love all these women with all their flaws.

Blair said...

great story - I imagine that thinking her way into an orgasm might come in handy sometimes...that may be a chapter in how to live luxuriously!

Suzy said...

Great characters. Interesting lives. You've got it all here. Keep going

holly said...

yes, love the details. love the thinking her way into an orgasm. ab

Anonymous said...

The loss of "the new and shiny" -- love how you documented that.

I keep trying to say, with greater accuracy, what it is I like so much about your writing. Tonight, the word "tight" is coming to mind. The writing is tight, like all the best short stories. There is no fluff here; every letter moves us forward. What a gift! xo

Jess said...

Wow, so intriguing. But I want so much more information about this character, about all the little sub-plots here!

Will be interesting to see how all these stories unfold for you.

Love.