In this series, I will take the Word of the Day from Dictionary.com and craft a short piece of creative writing around it. My goal is to embrace the meaning of the word in some unique way, all the while trying out different styles, rhythms and characterizations. It is as much an exercise in creativity as it is an exploration of grammar. Enjoy!
– – –
By Alex Seise
“So, what’s the gibber on the lane?”
The woman in the ruffled plaid cardigan didn’t look up from her stack of papers. She just shrugged.
“Oh, come on. You can spill. I know you weren’t outside gardening for the past two hours. You were listening, Sophia. You always listen.”
The flaxy sculpture that was the lady’s tight, silver bun jerked from side to side.
“Sophia, Sophia… Don’t make me pull it out of you.” The words paused in the heavy afternoon air. “Again. You didn’t like it when I yanked ’em from you last time. Remember?”
The woman blinked. Then, she lifted her eyes from the handful of bills and old, wrinkled documents to the window sill. Outside, a tall oak creaked in the breeze. Elegant as a monarch, she turned on the carpet and faced her companion.
“Good. Talk.”
Resignation brimming along the edges of her sad, gray eyes, the woman reached into the glass of minty water, took the quivering pair of teeth that giggled when her fingertips brushed along their gums and slid them into her mouth.
“Better, Sophia. Much better.” This time, the voice fell from the woman’s own mouth. “Now, spill, old girl.”
