A Write-O-Rama - 20, 108 Words

I have written over 5 000 words today, and am now caught up with my word count. It was not easy, and definitely bolstered with some questionable methods, including writing out all of the lyrics of Summer Girls, and a Martha Stewart craft. Not very much happened in these 5 000 words. Mark travelled from Toronto to Winigo, but he is about to have another flashback. And I think I was just setting up for a lot of things to happen quite quickly.

Here is an excerpt with a familiar character joining the fray:

He opened the door to Bandito, which was blessedly cool inside. A rather overweight woman wearing a grey pencil skirt that was several sizes too small, and was pulled tight over her formidable thighs, and a cheap-looking black T-shirt she appeared to have spent some time ironing stood behind the counter. He looked down and saw the piece de resistance of her outfit: zebra-print loafers. Each item taken on its own would have been horrible, but the overall effect of the outfit was pleasing.

                “Welcome to Bandito Video,” she said in a kind voice. A voice that might have been a little too kind. Mark silently wondered how anyone could be that kind to customers coming into the store at 3:30 in the morning. In fact, he was a little suspicious. He wondered to himself if she might be up to something. “Would you like some free popcorn? We make it fresh every hour!” she asked, her face contorting in an obvious attempt to suppress laughter.

                   Most people would have been disturbed by this display, and chosen not to eat the popcorn, but Mark was not one to turn down free popcorn. In fact, once he had fished an empty, crumpled popcorn bag out of a garbage bin in order to procure his supply, exclaiming "It's my lucky day!" as he did so. Mark nodded, thanking her, while grabbing his bag – a fresh one this time, not out of the garbage can –  and filling it up with the hot, buttery treat. While Mark perused the stacks for the movie he wished to watch, he snacked away. Already, the fear from his earlier encounters was starting to dissipate, although there was a nagging voice in his head telling him to leave. Mark tried to avoid listening to his inner coward as he continued his search.

                Mark could not find the Chevy Chase, Farrah Fawcett and Jonathan Taylor Thomas classic in the stacks, so he went up to the front desk to ask if they had it. On his way there, he passed a sullen looking boy who was trying very hard to look like he was sweeping, but was actually accomplishing nothing. In fact, the floor appeared to be dirtier where he was doing his false, overwrought routine. Mark caught his heavily lined eye and smiled, but only received a glum frown in return. Mark quickened his step.

                “Excuse me, but do you happen to have Man of the House?” he asked the woman behind the desk. Her name tag read “Mary Kate Astley”. Mark silently wondered to himself how many times she has had to deal with customers making the same joke about her name, and decided to keep his own jokes to himself.

Until next time, faithful readers.