Friday, April 27, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample - April 28


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.]

20 comments:

  1. 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!

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    1. Granny is a hoot. I'm rewriting right now to make her even zanier. (Is that a word? Maybe zany-er?)

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  2. What 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'. :)

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    1. Since I'm a native Texan, Matthew's drawl gets me every time. He also seems more approachable somehow -- like a regular guy.

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  3. We 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!)

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    1. You'll meet Granny soon. She's fun to write.

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    2. By 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.

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  4. When I was reading the description of the gold cart I flashed back the the Broadway musical, Oklahoma. Guess that ages me.
    Loveing the way the story is developing.

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    1. 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."
      I love it when someone "gets it."

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  5. 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.

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    1. Thanks 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.

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  6. I 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.

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    1. I'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!
      Glad you picked up on the surrey connection too.

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  8. Granny sounds like a really interesting lady. I'm looking forward to meeting her.

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    1. Thanks, Carrie-Anne and Rachel. I'm having fun with these characters.

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  10. I think the grocery list is interesting. Grandma still wants to look nice, or she wouldn't be asking for Miss Clairol.

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    1. You're right, Elaine. Granny is a young septuagenarian.

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