I'll be outside
With all the cold...I mean, COOL people.
I’ve got another bit of ‘literary taxidermy’ for you this week!
This time, the prompting line came from Scorched Grace: A Sister Holiday Mystery by Margot Douaiy:
The curfew limited my movement, but I needed to be outside.
And from that sentence, came…
That was where the important conversations took place - across the centre of smoking circles, arms folded over bodies to preserve warmth. I knew he’d be making his decision tonight. I looked at my watch - fifteen minutes until closing time. This had to happen now. Maintaining him in my sights, I eased myself through the clusters of drunken office staff. His laughter bellowed over the Christmas carol remixes as I arrived by his side, clutching my tinsel enveloped cocktail glass. I cleared my throat loudly and he turned to me, a look of fear cascading over his face.
The prompt sentence felt really juicy to me.
In just 11 words Douaiy communicates restriction, stake and urgency. Those were the elements I leaned into when writing the response to it …
<Not sure I was able to capture this when reading it out loud>
The drama!
Who is our protagonist?
What are they about to say?
And what on earth are they drinking?!
<I’d love to hear your thoughts>