The Phone Call 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPj4zyaveJ
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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY3D1c01Jl
This day is not going to be a when it rains it pours kind of day. Not going to let that happen. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDOb5sEgHF
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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8JQRULs62
"Ma! Ma! Brek-brek!" He points to his stomach and moves his hands in a circular motion. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLMfQKnfKg
"It's not time for breakfast, yet, buddy." A sigh. Breakfast is still cooking on the stove. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBzFzi8Ydl
"But brek-break now!" His face turns red. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aovyCJ49i
"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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR8mMuCDvp
"Please, Tommy, don't bite your hand." 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35wz7KvMSx
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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ixa5sMmZ9
"Hello?" 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ4uhbmzou
"Is this Victoria Davis?" The voice on the other line sounds professional. Almost too professional. Could it be what I've been hoping for? 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvAgnIHpNA
A fast heartbeat. Trembling hands. "Yes, this is she. Who is calling?" 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxTjHFU6n2
"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." 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeZkJKrwbr
Could this be true, and not a dream? This seems too good to be so. Way too good. "You do?" 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE3QqmP0Zm
"Yes, of course. Please respond to our email. It will help us if you set up an interview time with one of us." 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg98ZDU22eZ
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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKqJtGYbnl
"Tommy!" 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpJzuGR9zF
"Ma? Ma?" He toddles in the room, slapping his bare belly. He had already stripped out of his clothes. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXVOQJrOFq
"Tommy! We're going to Florida! We're going to Florida!" 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0Qhqzu9qS
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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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia3AITkT0x
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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYVc4k1KlX
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. 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJZgUpuCKF
If you're willing to see this become a story some day, let me know! 1019Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLpAb3C6Bs
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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