More familiar faces - 21,727

I took it easy writing today because of the heavy day yesterday, but I feel like I need to start taking off on my word count some time soon or I will get to 50 000 words on day 30 and my story will not truly be finished. I want to write more, and I have so much to write about. I recently had an excellent revelation about the plot in my novel (i.e. why this is all happening), and I am really excited to get things moving along.

Here is an excerpt from yesterday's writing session (all of today's revealed too many secrets!), and you may recognize a certain someone. Mark is pulling into the only bed and breakfast in Winigo, The Queen's Inn.

He pulled into the long driveway, parking at the end of it. It was still dark out, so he could not see the beautiful landscaping, but he could see that there was only one other car parked there. Good, he thought, they must have rooms available. Mark looked at the clock in the car, and it read 3:34. He felt bad arriving at such an ungodly hour, and did not want to wake anyone up, but he could not think of anywhere else he could go. The only twenty four hour businesses in the area were Bandito Video and the Belt Emporium. Winigo was too small to even have a Tim Hortons.

                Cringing, Mark rang the doorbell. After a minute or two, he heard voices, some movement, and large crash followed by a very loud, and long bout of swearing.  A light went on inside, the lock clicked, and the door opened revealing a harried looking woman of about forty five, with a large and elaborate afghan wrapped around her slight frame. Her pale face was lined, her graying hair pulled back in a tight bun and covered with a night cap, her feet buried in a pair of  fuschia crocs, almost certainly not worn in an ironic fashion. Mark cringed again in spite of himself.

                “Hello. Can I help you?” she asked, covering her mouth with her hand to hide a yawn.

                “Yes, but first I would like to apologize for disturbing you at this hour. I was looking to book a room,” he said, yawning reflexively in response to her yawn.

                “Of course. How about I show you to your room, and we deal with the paper work in the morning? I’m Miss Pettigrew, by the way.”

                “Whatever is easiest for you. And I am Mark,” he responded, reaching out his hand to shake hers.

                “What time will you be wanting breakfast?” she asked.

                “Probably about 8 o’clock,” Mark answered, noting the surprise in her face. “I hope that is not too early for you.”

                “No, that will be fine. I hope you like oatmeal, and bread with just enough butter to cover it. I still cannot get over my war time rationings!” she said, motioning for him to follow her to the room. He walked through the quaintly decorated home, filled with flower patterns, candles, and doilies. Mark smiled to himself as he walked into the spacious room he was going to be staying in during his time in Winigo. The room had three large windows running along the wall opposite the door, and was decorated all in bright yellows and oranges. The canopy bed on the same side as the door was covered in an orange lace comforter, and all manner of pillows, most notably mustard yellow leafy sunroom pillows, printed in orange paint with three different sizes of anthurium leaves. The minimalist pattern would have been suitable for any bedroom, or even a tote bag or napkin set, but was simply divine in brightly coloured guest room. There was a small TV with DVD player in one corner on a yellow table. In front of the TV table was a white leather chair that looked incredibly comfortable, and was made fashionable with more of the anthurium printed pillows. The room was cheerful, and it was exactly what Mark needed. He thanked the lady of the house as she went back to bed, then he closed the door. He unpacked his suitcase and went through his nightly routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing in the en suite bathroom before changing into his pajamas and settling into that comfortable chair to watch his movie.

Until next time, faithful readers!