Here’s
another sample from my work-in-progress, Elly
and the Geriatrics. If you haven’t read my earlier posts, you’ll need to
know that Elly is staying with Granny M to help her recover from a broken
ankle. But that’s against the Sunset Acres Retirement Village rules, so Elly is in disguise.
Elly parked Granny’s golf cart near the door of the Shop
‘N Hop and grabbed a fabric tote from the orange-colored bin behind the seat. Granny
had hot-glued yellow fringe around the bin’s edges and added a big glittery M
on the back—M for Marge Macauley. An orange vinyl canopy covered the cart’s top.
That, too, had a trim of yellow fringe dangling from its edges, inspiring
Granny to call the vehicle “My Little Surrey.” To Elly, the two-person cart
resembled a miniature Rose Parade float.
Elly pulled the handwritten list
from the slicker’s pocket and read the items Granny M had written in looping
cursive.
Two-percent
milk (quart)
Tylenol
Miss
Clairol #108 (reddish blond)
National
Enquirer
White
bread
Peanut
butter
At
the bottom, she saw the words,
Buy yourself a
treat.
Elly chuckled. The kind of treat she
wanted wasn’t available at a mini-mart. If she could just have a day at a spa,
complete with massage, facial, manicure, and pedicure, that luxury would keep
her smiling for a month. Heck, while she was daydreaming she might as well make
the masseur a drop-dead gorgeous Matthew McConaughey or George Clooney clone
and set the scene on a beach in Hawaii. Why not? It sure as hell wasn’t going to
happen. Really, if she just had a decent apartment back in Dallas and a start
toward her career, she’d be satisfied. She straightened her shoulders and
pushed aside her frustration. Jobs weren’t easy to come by right now, Granny
needed her, and their arrangement suited her temporarily. The rest would come,
hopefully soon. She pushed open the glass door to the store.
Now where do
they keep Miss Clairol?
Personally, I'd choose Matthew McConaughey. Can't resist that Texas drawl.
By the way, I was amazed at the
tricked-out golf carts pictured online. Here are links to a couple of sites that
include photos.
Go, Granny. Go!
Click here to read earlier posts
from Elly and the Geriatrics:
For links to more Sweet Saturday
Samples, click here: http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/
Photo sources:
[NOTE: The golf cart photo is mine.]
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Another great sample! Granny sounds like my kind of lady. Hope my grandkids are as loving as Elly. And I agree, Matthew would be my choice, though George would be a close second!
ReplyDeleteGranny is a hoot. I'm rewriting right now to make her even zanier. (Is that a word? Maybe zany-er?)
DeleteWhat a nice sample! Thanks for sharing with us today. I have to take Matthew because George Clooney looks just like my dad! Sooo....I've always been unable to think he's 'hot'. :)
ReplyDeleteSince I'm a native Texan, Matthew's drawl gets me every time. He also seems more approachable somehow -- like a regular guy.
DeleteWe haven't yet met Granny, but I sure feel like I know her already. What a great glimpse into both characters (and that golf cart is insane!)
ReplyDeleteYou'll meet Granny soon. She's fun to write.
DeleteBy the way, I took the golf cart picture while on vacation. My husband and I came out of a restaurant and it was parked right in front of us! I said, "That's Granny's golf cart!" Of course, my husband looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Although it wasn't exactly as I'd imagined, I couldn't believe something I'd conjured up stood right in front of me. Now I wish I'd taken more pictures.
DeleteWhen I was reading the description of the gold cart I flashed back the the Broadway musical, Oklahoma. Guess that ages me.
ReplyDeleteLoveing the way the story is developing.
I'm so glad you flashed back to "Oklahoma." That's exactly what I intended! After all, Granny is in her 70s and that's where she got the idea of calling the golf cart "My Little Surrey."
DeleteI love it when someone "gets it."
That is so realistic! I live in Florida, 10 minutes from an over 55 community where my mother is. They allow golf carts on most secondary roads and many are quite a hoot with their decorations! Thanks for the smile.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Marsha. I have a friend who lives in an over-55 manufactured-home community near me, so I have an inside track. However, I hope you'll let me know if you see anything in my future posts that doesn't sound realistic.
DeleteI too got the Surrey With the Fringe on Top reference. :) Love Granny's sense of humor. can't wait to meet her. And I'm a Clooney fan, though I'd go for Sean Connery in a pinch. LOL Hopefully Elly will find more than Miss Clairol in the mini-mart.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Clooney fan and love Sean Connery too, but younger readers think Sean is an old dude. I always think of 007 when I see him!
DeleteGlad you picked up on the surrey connection too.
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ReplyDeleteGranny sounds like a really interesting lady. I'm looking forward to meeting her.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying this one. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carrie-Anne and Rachel. I'm having fun with these characters.
DeleteI think the grocery list is interesting. Grandma still wants to look nice, or she wouldn't be asking for Miss Clairol.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Elaine. Granny is a young septuagenarian.
DeleteI think I would go with George.
ReplyDelete