Trisha Sugarek's Blog, page 117

Read my novel….”Women Outside the Walls” (part 32)

(continued)……….But her heart told her different. Not after all this time. I can’t see him…I can’t bear to talk to him again. Her heart ached at the thought.

Sally’s voice suddenly got louder. “Get lost, I said. She doesn’t want to see you, much less hear anything you’ve got to say.”

“Alma!” Charlie suddenly yelled from behind the door. “Please, give me five minutes. Alma!”

Alma turned deathly white and began to shake.

“You son-of-a-bitch, get outta here. I’m calling the bouncers if you don’t get your foot the hell outta this door.” Sally said.

“Sally, it’s okay. Let him in. I want to get this over with one last time.” Alma said.

Sally looked at Alma over her shoulder. “You sure, honey? You don’t have to see him, ya know?”

“I’m sure. Let ‘im in.”

Sally reluctantly opened the door and there he was. My God, Alma thought. He’s more gorgeous than I remembered.

Working out in the sun on the ocean had given Charlie a deep bronzed tan and lightened his hair putting golden streaks in that tangled with the light brown. His eyes seemed to reflect the blue of the sea. He had taken a couple of steps into the room and stood just staring at her.

“You want us girls to get lost, Alma?” Sally asked.

“No, Charlie’s got nothin’ more to say to me that you all can’t hear,” Alma replied. “Do you Charlie?”

Charlie looked around the room and realized that nobody was going anywhere.

“Alma baby, please. I made a terrible mistake, leaving you like I did. It’s just that with my mom being sick and you bein’ pregnant…..”

Everyone except Sally gasped at this news. Eyes big, the girls looked at each other.

Charlie continued as if no one else was in the room except the two of them. “….I admit it, I ran. And have regretted it every day I’ve been gone. I shouldn’t have left you alone to deal with the abortion and everything. I am so sorry. Please, please forgive me.”

Alma stood perfectly still, her robe caught on one arm and shoulder, and smiled. She didn’t answer and didn’t move; she just stood there smiling.

They stood there for what seemed like forever to Alma. Charlie took in her body with his eyes like a man who was starving for life itself. He paused when his glance fell on her belly. It was slightly rounded above the line of her bikini underwear. Christ, it’s not like Alma to carry an ounce of extra weight, Charlie thought to himself.

                                                                                                   ********

The next segment will appear Friday .  Hope you return to find out what happens to Alma and Charlie and the other women outside the walls…..

To receive my posts sign up for my blog.  Go to the home page; On the right side you’ll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. When you get an email from ‘Writer at Play’ be certain to confirm.  Thanks!

PS. my blogs about writing will continue on Tues. and Thurs.

10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer

Compliments of Brian Clark, CEO of Copyblogger

I had to share this.  It is so true!  I bang out stuff that never sees the light of day.   I vent on a new post that I never publish.  I keep post-it note pads everywhere in the house so that if I get an idea (some good, some not so much) I can jot it down.  My most valuable post-it note pad is by my bedside because frequently I write in my head in a dream-like state and if I (and I have) say to myself, ‘oh, I’ll remember this when I wake up’ I never do and IT IS GONE FOREVER!

In the middle of the night I ‘dreamed’ a single line for a poem I was working on…..“an overachiever bee dips into the nectar….” and yes, I turned on the light and wrote it down.  When I awoke in the morning the only thing I remembered was that I had a terrific line for my poetry but had no idea what it was.  Fortunately there it was on my little post-it.

Oh yes.  NEVER, NEVER throw anything you write away!  My first book of poetry was a collection of stuff I had written for the past thirty years.  Just thoughts, musings, and free form poetry that ended up (with much editing) in a book.  Back in 2005 I wrote a piece about a famous murder case in the headlines and now here in 2012 it ended up in my book, “Monologues 4 Women”.  You just never know what can be dusted off and used.

I hope you are enjoying reading my novel in serial form here on my blog.

To receive each segment sign up for my blog.  Go to the home page; On the right is a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. When you get an email from ‘Writer at Play’ be certain to confirm.  Thanks!

Read my novel….”Women Outside the Walls” (part 31)

Chapter 15

Alma ~ seventeen years earlier

Three months and I’m finally finished throwing up my toe nails every hour. What a relief to be over that part, Alma thought to herself. And since Sal is the only one that even has a clue about my baby, I can still work. Alma stretched and then snuggled down under the down quilt. Wonder what Charlie’s doin’.

She had not heard from him after he almost ran from her apartment the night of the pregnancy test. The only word that she had had of him was through his mom whom Alma continued to visit every couple of weeks.

It’s clear that he’s not thinkin’ about me. How could I fall for him all over again and let him break my heart a second time? She admonished herself. When will you wise up, Alma? As if in answer, Alma felt a miniscule flutter under her heart. She lay perfectly still. Oh my, there it was again, she thought. It’s the baby, I know it is.

“Hello, baby-girl,” she whispered. “It’s Mama. Don’t you worry about a thing.” She made slow circles on the slight bulge that was her tummy now. “We’re going to do just fine, you and me.”

As Alma threw back the covers she continued to talk to her baby.

“Speaking of us doing okay, Mama needs to get her tush in gear and get to work. The rent’s not gonna get paid by itself.”

An hour later Alma walked in the back door of the Pussy Cat. Sally and some of the other girls were chatting, smoking and laughing.

“Hey, Al, was’up?” Sally cried.

“Nothin’. What’d I miss?” Alma said.

“Just the usual shop talk.”

Taking her makeup kit from her carry-all she tossed the bag on the floor. Alma sat at her dressing table and opened the box. She placed her foundation, blush, glitter, mascara, lipstick and brushes in a neat row. Opening a small tub she dipped her finger into the rich cream and began to rub conditioner into her skin.

All around her swirled chatter, laughter, and little screams but she didn’t participate. Except for Sally, who was older than the rest, Alma thought the other girls were pretty silly. Their conversations consisted of what some rich customer had bought them for a little of their ‘time’; the latest Frederick’s of Hollywood catalog; and how sore their feet were. They didn’t seem to have goals and dreams like she did. And the anticipation of the baby now removed her even further from their frivolous world.

Danny knocked and immediately poked his head in. “Hey, Louise, you’re up.”

Louise rose and headed for the door.

“Time to make the register ca-ching, ca-ching, ladies,” she said as she walked out.

“God, I wish I had tits like hers,” Sally exclaimed. “And they’re real!”

“How do you know?” Alma asked.

Sally winked, “’Cause she let me feel them.” The other girls screamed with mirth.

“Oh, that’s just gross, Sally!” Alma told her.

Sally laughed. “I didn’t say I liked it.”

Alma playfully stuck her tongue out at Sally which made her laugh even harder.

Danny stuck his head in again. “Destiny, Amber, Epic, lap dances out front! Ernie says move your asses.”

The other girls groaned as they got up and sauntered out. Alma continued to apply her makeup while Sally watched her.

“How’re ya feelin’, kid?”

Alma looked at her through the mirror. “Great, why?”

“Have you heard from him? The asshole?”

“Noooo…and don’t call him that. He didn’t ask for a baby or a family. What we had was just for kicks. I know that now.” Alma replied.

“I still say you were nuts to keep it. What’d ya goin’ do when you start to show? When you can’t get into a costume anymore?”

“I’ve been savin’ every dollar I can. We’re gonna be all right.”

“Does the assho….does Charlie know you didn’t get an abortion?”

“Nope, it’s none of his business.” Fiercely Alma said. “I’m taking care of this baby…he’s got no part in it.”

“Five minutes, Alma,” Danny called out with a sharp knock on the door.

“Okay, Danny, thanks,” she replied.

* * * *

Later that night Alma and all the girls sat at their dressing tables creaming off their makeup and talking about the evening.

“Men are such pigs! Amber complained.

“What’s new?” Louise asked.

“Pigs with money to spend.” Epic corrected her.

“Gots to love the moola.” Destiny said.

The last number was danced by Sally and she would be finished in a couple of minutes.

“Looks like you had a very good night, Alma,” Epic observed.

Alma carefully counted her tips putting them in piles by denominations. “Yeah, pretty good.”

“I just don’t get it. She’s never completely naked and they throw money at her for keeping her clothes on,” Destiny said to Epic.

“I keep tellin’ ya. Leave somethin’ to the imagination; it turns ‘em on more than if they see everything ya got.” Alma explained.

“Yeah, but what ‘bout Ernie?” asked Louise.

“Put your foot down. The more tips you get the bigger his take. Simple math.” Alma laughed.

As Sally came through the door from the stage, Alma rose from her chair and began to take off her robe. She was in her bra and bikini panties, plain white and nothing fancy. She walked over to the clothes rack where all the girls hung their street clothes.

There was a knock at the back door.

“I’ll get it,” Sally said. She opened the door a crack and said in a low murmur, “What are you doing here? Get lost!”

She started to close the door.

“I’m not leavin’.” A masculine voice murmured.

“Get your foot outta the goddamn door, asshole.”

“Not until I see her.” The voice replied.

Alma stood there frozen, half in and half out of her robe.

That can’t be….Charlie’s voice?

********

The next segment will appear Wednesday .  Hope you return to find out what happens to Alma and Charlie and the other women outside the walls…..

To receive each segment sign up for my blog.  Go to the home page; Scroll down to a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. When you get an email from ‘Writer at Play’ be certain to confirm.  Thanks!

PS. my blogs about writing will continue on Tues. and Thurs.

Reading my novel….”Women Outside the Walls” (part 30)

Chapter 14 

Alma

 

“Gin!” Charlie hollered.

     “Dang it, Daddy,” Chelsea said. “Ya stuck me with a high count again.”  She counted her cards. “Ten, twenty, thirty, forty…fifty-five, Alma… uh, I mean ‘Ma’.”

Charlie laughed. “Too bad, little girl.  You and your Ma are outta your league.  I am the Gin King!  Your deal Alma.”

 Chelsea rose from her chair. “Don’t deal ‘til I get back, Alma.”

“Hey!” Charlie said.

“Sor-rey.  Ma, I gotta go to the can.  Don’t play ‘til I get back, ‘kay?”

“Okay, hon,” Alma replied.

Chelsea walked off and Charlie turned to Alma. “The ‘can’? I can guess where she got that from. She hangs around your job and listen to the way she talks! ‘The can’? For Chrissakes, Alma, don’cha teach her nothin’?

Charlie glared at Alma as she continued to shuffle  the cards.

“Well? Ya gonna tell me or not? Where ya strippin’ at, huh?”

“Now Charlie, don’t get all mad, please.  You’ll get in’ta trouble again.”

Charlie leaned in close, “Just tell me ya ain’t workin’ for that bastard, Rick.  Say it, Alma. ‘I ain’t workin’ for Rick.’”

Alma’s eyes flashed, “Yes!  All right? I’m back at the Paradise Lounge.  Rick said…”

“Goddamn It!” Charlie hissed. “How could ya? Did ya forget what that fucker tried with Chelsea?”  Charlie shook his head, “What the fuck’s the matter with you?”

“I’m keeping Chels away…honest, Charlie. And I told Rick he had to behave himself.”

“Ya told Rick he had to behave himself.” Charlie sneered. “Well, that should take care of it then.  What was I thinkin’?  Jee-sus, Alma!”

“I laid down the law…” Alma explained.

“Yeah, I’ll just bet you did…Key word being ‘laid’!

Alma ignored the sarcasm. “Besides Rick hired me at the same percentage as some of the girls that’ve been there a long time. He said ‘no hard feelings’.”

“‘No hard feelings?’” Charlie hissed. “That’s what that low life says after he molested my daughter?”

“Now, Charlie, he didn’t exactly molest her, okay? It was just a kiss. She did kind’a have a crush on him, ya know.”

Charlie ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Christ-on-a-crutch!  A real man doesn’t take advantage of a kid who’s got a crush on him. I gotta get outta here!  I’m gonna kill that son of a bitch.  Alma, you are not workin’ there…you get your ass in there tomorrow and you quit, ya hear me?  And tell him to stay the fuck away from my daughter.”

“Yeah? And so what are we supposed to do for money, huh, Charlie?”

“You tell me!  What?”

“There’s plenty of jobs out there if you’d just get off your butt and look!” Charlie said.

 “I did look!  I can’t make the same kind’a dough.  Ya keep tellin’ me what I ain’t supposed ta do…”

Charlie glared at Alma. “Shit!”

“Ya start fightin’ in the joint… get yourself transferred out here to the middle of nowhere…I gotta leave my job in Reno, follow you.  I can’t strip, I can’t bartend, I can’t dance.  I’m sick of you tellin’ me what I can’t do! Try tellin’ me what I can do, why don’cha?  What am I suppose to do with you in here another five to ten, minimum?”  Alma’s voice dwindled to a whine. “Why’d ya hav’ta to go and kill that guy, huh?”

“He had it comin’, attackin’ ya like that…besides, it was an accident,” Charlie said.  “Forget it!  Here comes Chels.  I don’t wanna talk about it anymore.”

Chelsea weaved her way through the tables until she reached Alma and Charlie. “Did ya wait for me?”

She took a closer look at her mother’s face.  “What’s wrong? How come ya look funny, Ma?  Come on, ya been fightin’ again haven’t ya?” Chelsea’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Ma, I’m sorry I told on ya.  Please don’t be mad at her, Daddy.”

“It ain’t nothin’, sweetie.  Don’t you get all upset now.” Alma reassured her daughter.

“I ain’t mad at her, honey,” Charlie said. “I’m mad at me for bein’ in here is all.    Listen, Chels, I want you to promise me somethin’.  Will ya?”

“What is it, Daddy?” Chelsea asked.

“I want you to promise me that you’ll stay away from the club where your Ma works.”

“I want ya to stay far away from Rick.  Will ya promise your old Dad?”

“Oh, Daddy,” Chelsea replied. “I don’t need to promise you that.  I am so over Rick!”

Charlie laughed with relief. “Okay then!  That’s settled.  Deal the cards, Alma.”

Alma shuffled the cards once more and began to deal.  “See, doll, nothin’ to worry about. Chel’s a good girl, ain’t’cha, honey?” Charlie sighed. “Just deal, will ya?”

************

The next segment will appear Monday .  Hope you return to find out what happens to Alma and Charlie and the other women outside the walls…..

To receive each segment sign up for my blog.  Go to the home page; Scroll down to a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. When you get an email from ‘Writer at Play’ be certain to confirm.  Thanks!

PS. my blogs about writing will continue on Tues. and Thurs.

 

 

 

  

 

 

A writer’s gratitude

Last Saturday was my book signing at the iconic book store, E. Shaver’s Book Sellers.  What a special day!  The staff at Shaver’s made me feel so welcome.  They had a nice spot all set up where the first thing the customer saw when they walked in was my table displaying my books. The store is a collection of cozy little rooms filled to the rafters with BOOKS!  Old, original hardwood floors that creaked when stepped upon.  And outside the occasional clip-clop of horses’ hooves as carriages drove by the front door.

Both  my illustrators stopped by to show support. Lori Smaltz, the photographer, was there with her gorgeous coffee table book of celebrated cemeteries of Savannah (Bone Garden Enchantment).  She has done most of my photo-collage covers for my books.   Jefferson O’Neal, a wonderful artist and the illustrator for all of my children’s books, stayed and signed kiddie books with me.

During the three hour event we enjoyed meeting around 75 people; tourists dropping in, regular customers that shop at Shavers all the time, and a few of my personal friends.  I met a lady from Sri Lanka, in remission with stage four cancer.  What a beautiful spirit she had…her outlook was so loving and positive.  Then there was Celia (a realtor with Sotheby’s) who marched in, came straight to my table and ‘browsed’ my books.  She quickly picked out two; one for her granddaughter, Mimi, and my novel for herself.  The staff told me later that she supports whatever is going on at Shaver’s and is very generous.  What a nice lady!   My hair stylist came by with her son, Cameron, (a sweetie) and they bought all of my children’s books.  Thanks! Andrea!

And then there were the four-legged shoppers!  E. Shaver’s is pet friendly and in they paraded, knowing they would be welcomed. A beautiful springer spaniel with the sweetest face.  An Airedale with a harness that said, ‘service dog’.  But you could hardly take him seriously with his one cocked up ear; making him look like he was always asking you a question.  It was a hoot!  And then little ‘Evie’, a mutt with chihuahua, wire-haired terrier and probably six other ingredients; Evie is a bounding, jumping, bundle of pure joy!

The funny, human observation that I made was that some customers would NOT look at me.  As if they thought,  “Oh no. If I look at her, I’ll have to buy something!”  Very funny,  but that’s just me and my weird sense of humor.  I was just so darn grateful to the owner and staff at Shaver’s Booksellers.  They have taken me in, supported my work and are willing to share their limited shelf space with my books!  I am blowing them kisses!

Blogging my novel…”Women Outside the Walls” (part 29)

                                                                       Chapter 13 (con’t.)

……….Did you use protection?” asked Sally.

“I am now. Pills. But that first weekend… well, we were kinda caught up in the moment. Oh, Sally,” Alma groaned, “what am I gonna do?”

There was a sharp rap and Danny, the backstage hand, stuck his head around the corner of the door. “Five minutes, Sal.”

“Thanks, Danny.” Sally turned back to Alma.

“What you’re gonna do, after work, is go buy a home pregnancy test…hell, buy three to be sure. Go home and pee on them and then worry.”

“What’ll I tell Charlie? He’s pickin’ me up.”

“Don’t say a word to lover-boy. Not until you have to,” Sally patted Alma’s shoulder. “Gotta go entertain the drunks. Be back in a minute.”

Sally checked her makeup one last time, grabbed a silver glittery boa and, with an exaggerated hip sway, walked out.

* * * * *

Later that night Charlie lay on the bed with a remote in one hand and a beer in the other. He heard the toilet flush and set his beer on the night stand. Alma walked into the room wearing a sheer pink night gown with lace covering her breasts. One of her hands was hidden in the folds of the gown. Her face was devoid of makeup and Charlie marveled again at how beautiful she was.

He patted the edge of the bed. “Com’er, doll, I miss you.”

Alma walked over and sat down. Charlie gently placed his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in. He rained light kisses along the line of her mouth and Alma moaned. Regretfully, she pulled away.

“What is it, babe?” Charlie asked. “Not in the mood tonight?”

“Oh, Charlie, I’m always in the mood with you. It’s just….well….like I need to talk to you, is all,” Alma said.

“Well, don’t look so scared, baby. What’s up?”

Silently Alma raised her hand.

“What’s this?” Charlie said as he took what looked like a tongue depressor from her. He turned it over and then saw the big pink plus sign in the window of the pregnancy test.

He looked from it to Alma’s face.  “What the hell…. Is this a pregnancy test? You…?”

Alma silently nodded her head and watched Charlie’s face. This was a turning point in her life. She loved him so much but somehow she couldn’t tell him. The moment she took all three tests and every one had a bright pink ‘+’ sign she knew what she wanted. She wanted Charlie and she wanted this baby. She wanted a family, something she had never had and had always dreamed about.

“But I thought you said you was on the pill?” Charlie sputtered.

“I am, Charlie, now. I guess it happened that first weekend.”

“My God.” Charlie whispered.

The silence was so heavy Alma thought she would scream. Please, God, let him be happy, let him say he wants to be a family with me and our baby.

Charlie frowned. “What are you gonna do?”

And with those five little words Alma knew if she kept this baby she was on her own. Charlie asking her ‘what are you was going to do’; not what are we going to do told her everything she needed to know.

“Well, I’m not keeping it for God’s sake! What would I do with a kid?” Alma clinched her jaw to keep the tears back.

“Oh. Okay, then. ‘Cause I’m not certain I’m ready for all that, ya know. Being a father? Jesus! It’s never crossed my mind. And besides that I got a call from the rig today. If I want to keep my job I have to go back in a couple of days. Probably for about a month.”

“Don’t worry. This is not your problem. I’ll take care of it.” Alma said.

“Okay.” Charlie jumped out of the bed and pulled his jeans on.

Searching, he finally found his T-shirt on the floor. Pulling the shirt over his head he said, “Look, I’m gonna take off. I should get over to my mom’s and see how she’s doin’. See what she needs before I leave. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Sure, Charlie. I’ll talk to you later.” Alma reached for the remote and turned the television on. Blindly she stared at some inane sit-com as Charlie walked over and kissed her on the top of her head.

“See ya soon, Bug,” he said and walked out the door.

Alma sat with tears streaming down her face and listened to his car start up and peel out. She sobbed once and the second sob came out as an animal in mortal pain. She threw the remote at the TV as hard as she could and collapsed onto the bed sobbing.

*****

The next segment will appear Friday .  Hope you return to find out what happens to Alma and Charlie and the other women outside the walls…..

To receive each segment sign up for my blog.  Go to the home page; Scroll down to a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. When you get an email from ‘Writer at Play’ be certain to confirm.  Thanks!

PS. my blogs about writing will continue on Tues. and Thurs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write what you know…..or..

…or research ’till your eye balls fall out.

I am working on my second novel, “Wild Violets”. It takes place during a period in America’s history that I am somewhat familiar with but not nearly enough as it turns out.

The story is going well, I am happy with the development of my characters.  Suddenly I realized my (sketchy) heroine had a bar during the years of prohibition.  Ops! So I quickly changed it to a speakeasy with illegal booze, which made the story even more interesting. Now Violet had to dodge the coppers and the Mob!

I have two photographs of Violet in the fashion of the day.  Not nearly enough information to write an entire story.  With a few clicks, using the Internet, I can research time lines, facts and fashion.

The fashion of the roaring twenties is fascinating. Women were just coming out of being laced up, tied up, strapped up and cinched up so tight that they often fainted from lack of air!  The tiny waists (even if you didn’t have one naturally)  and the huge bell sleeves were gone.  Suddenly fashion dictated sexy, loose soft fabrics, with a suggestion of revealing more, but still covering up the female form.[image error]

The feminist women of the 20′s were called ‘flappers‘.  They worked all day and danced all night! And Violet certainly did that!  Worked a twelve-hour day in her bar and grill, ran upstairs to her apartment, refreshed her makeup, donned her bright red dress with the fringe and piled into a town car to hit her favorite road house.  Seeking the coldest gin and the hottest jazz!

Blogging my novel…”Women Outside the Walls” (part 28)

Chapter 13  (con’t.)

……She curled into him like a sleepy little cat. Her breathing steadied and slowed. As he dropped into a satiated sleep he thought he heard her whisper. “I love you.”

* * *a month later* * *

The music thrummed through the walls of the dressing room. Muted laughter and an occasional happy shout could be heard from out front. Sally and Alma sat at their mirrors freshening their makeup for their next numbers.

“So I says to this guy, ‘what makes you think I would go to the VIP room with you for twenty bucks?’ Sally said. “You must got somethin’ awful special there in your pants.

”Alma laughed. “There’s nothin’ that special.”

“Tell me about it.”

They were silent for a few moments concentrating on getting just the perfect ‘smoky eye’ applied and re-gluing a loose eyelash. “Can I borrow your Pussy-Pink lip glitter? Sally asked.

“Sure. Here you go,” Alma handed her the lipstick tube.

“So how’s it goin’ with what’s-his-name?”

“Charlie. Yeah, it’s really good. The only time we’re not together is when I’m workin’. He’s got a leave of absence from his job, ‘cause of his mom bein’ sick.”

“How long is he gonna be around?”

“I hope forever.” Alma sighed.

“Sounds pretty serious.”

“Now don’t you laugh, Sal. But, I’m so in love with him I can’t see straight. I thought it was love when I was a kid and he broke my heart, but that doesn’t even come close to what I feel now.”

“How does he feel…about you?” asked Sally.

“I’m not sure. We haven’t talked about it. I’m scared if I tell him how I really feel he’ll run like a rabbit.”

“Yeah, they’re known to do that,” Sally laughed.

“He acts like he cares. Brings me flowers, remembers little things that I like. When we….don’t

you dare laugh…when we make love, he is so tender I wanna’ cry.”

Sally stared at Alma. “‘Make love?’ You mean to tell me you finally lost your cherry? And you didn’t even tell me. God! I’d given up on you. Thought you were going to be a virgin ‘till you were forty.”

Sally slapped Alma’s shoulder and laughed hysterically. “God, I can’t believe you finally gave it up!”

“It’s not funny, Sal. I told you I was waiting for someone special. I just didn’t tell you who it was.”

“Well, I’m happy for you. Just make sure this fucker treats you….”

Sally stopped what she was about to say and watched amazed as Alma jumped up, knocking her chair over backwards, and ran for the toilet.

“Oh, God, oh god….” Alma cried as she dashed away.

Alma slammed the toilet seat up, sank to her knees and vomited noisily. The toilet was housed in a closet- sized room that barely allowed the door to be closed. Her feet stuck out of the partially closed door. She hugged the bowl and continued to dry heave, moaning loudly.

After a minute of shock, Sally followed her and held Alma’s hair back. “Jeez, kid, what’s wrong? You okay?”

Shaking, Alma got to her feet and wobbled back to her chair. Pulling it upright, she slumped into it.

“Yeah, I’m okay. I’ve had the flu since Tuesday. Thought I’d be all right by tonight. It comes and goes.” Alma said.

“You sure ya got the flu?” Sally asked.

“Wha’d ya mean?”

“Ya got chills? Fever? Aches?”

“No…just throwin’ up. Then I feel just fine ‘till the next time. Why?” Alma asked.

“When was your last period, Alma?”

“What!? I don’t know. Four….no, five…Oh my God! Six weeks ago, I think. Where’s a calendar?” Alma jumped up and immediately sat back down. “Yuk, I feel like shit.”

“You could be preggers, is all I’m saying.”

Alma’s eyes went wide with shock. “No, that’s not possible.”

*****

The next segment will appear Wednesday .  Hope you return to find out what happens to Alma and Charlie and the other women outside the walls…..

To receive each segment sign up for my blog.  Go to the home page; Scroll down to a box where you can enter your email address. Click on “join my blog”. When you get an email from ‘Writer at Play’ be certain to confirm.  Thanks!

PS. my blogs about writing will continue on Tues. and Thurs.

 

BOOK SIGNING TODAY !!

    I hope you will come out today for my
BOOK SIGNING !!
  Shaver Book Sellers, on Madison Square in Savannah
to hold a book signing.

              This event will begin at

2PM today, November 17th.

              Shaver’s carries all of my children’s books, my poetry and novel, “Women Outside the Walls”.  Also available, today only, will be most of my play scripts.

Come by and say “hello” and enjoy this historic, iconic book store that is locally owned and operated.

SHAVER’S BOOKSELLERS

326 Bull Street

Blogging my novel…”Women Outside the Walls” (part 27)

Chapter 13

Alma ~ seventeen years earlier

Alma rushed to answer the door the next day. She took a deep breath and blew her exhale into her palm, checking her breath. She opened the door and there he was. Tight, low rider jeans, a crisp, newly ironed shirt and that killer smile.

“Hi Charlie,” she said as she unlatched the screened door.

Charlie stepped in and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Hello, beautiful. I see you got your beauty rest.”

“Come on in. I cooked you some food. Are you hungry?”

“Yeah, I’m starved. I thought two o’clock would never come.” He thrust a handful of Shasta daisies at her. “Um…these are for you.”

“Oh, Charlie, they’re my favorite. You remembered.”

He frowned. “It’s nothing.”

“How come you’re cranky? Did I do something wrong?”

“If being who you are and lookin’ like you do is wrong, then, yeah, you did.”

“Charlie, that’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be romantic, you crazy woman! You’re still too young for me, in spite of your job. I shouldn’t start something I can’t finish, especially with you.”

Alma stepped into him and ran the back of her hand tenderly down his jaw line. “Who says it has to have a ‘finish’?”

Charlie caught her hand and turning it over, kissed her palm. “God, woman, do you know what you do to me when you touch me?”

“I’d like to find out.”

He stepped back. “Come on, let’s get those posies into some water and you can show me what you cooked.”

Alma gave him a knowing smile and turned to the kitchen. A low bar divided the kitchenette from the living room. The living room was done in shades of sand and white. A huge abstract painting in reds, yellows, blues and orange covered one wall.

“Nice room.” Charlie said as he took it all in.

“Thank you. I love flea markets and garage sales. It’s surprising what people will throw away.”

“You’ve got quite the touch with somebody else’s trash.”

“Thanks again…I think.”

“That didn’t come out the way I meant it. You seem to have a knack with decoratin’.” Charlie explained.

“I knew what you meant.” She gave him a sexy smile.

Putting a wall, even if it was only a half wall, between him and Alma seemed like a good idea so he sat on the other side of the bar and watched her. Alma reached up and opened a high cabinet door. Her midriff blouse pulled up and exposed lightly tanned skin and a peek of the lower curve of her breast. My God, she’s not wearing a bra. Charlie sighed to himself.

“Honey, can you reach this vase for me please?”  Alma said, turning and catching him transfixed on her body.

“Um…what?” Charlie stuttered. “Oh, yeah, sure.” Charlie rose and walked around the bar. Alma didn’t move as he started to reach up into the cabinet. There was nothing but a breath between their bodies. Alma watched the cords of muscle play in his neck. The top couple of buttons were undone on his shirt and dark blonde chest hair curled out.

Charlie brought the vase down and realized how close Alma was. He stood there frozen with the vase in one hand. Alma closed the inches between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. She slowly brought her lips up to his but instead of kissing him; she touched his bottom lip with her slick pink tongue. With the lightest touch she slowly caressed his mouth. He tasted of this morning’s toothpaste, lemons and Charlie.

Unconsciously, Charlie let go of the vase and it landed on the counter with a loud smack. He encircled Alma with his arms. He opened his lips to her tongue and it darted in playfully to caress his. Charlie groaned as he deepened their kiss. He was awash in sensation; the stroke of her tongue, the press of her body, the scent of her. She stood on her tiptoes to gain better access to his mouth.

He broke off the kiss then and trailed his lips down the column of her throat and buried his face in the juncture where her neck and shoulder met. He nipped the tender skin there and felt a shudder run through Alma’s body. Her eyes were closed as she waited for his next caress. When it didn’t come her eyes snapped open.

He looked into her passion glazed eyes. “Alma?”

“Baby, don’t stop.” Alma demanded.

He took her mouth again, consuming her. She plunged her hands into his heavy, soft hair….

*****

Out of respect for my younger readers, this graphic chapter will not be posted.

Sorry, but I know that my adult readers will understand. If you email me I will send you this chapter.

The next segment will appear Monday .  Hope you return to find out what happens to Alma and Charlie and the other women outside the walls…..

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