Writing Warm-Up

Spend 20 minutes writing a scene that involves two old friends unexpectedly meeting in a store.  Have them each shopping for an item that reveals something about their present situations.

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Erin and Linda both drove ten minutes away from their hometown the first night of their reunion weekend to go to the Berry Brothers' General Store to pick up a few things.  They drove separately, of course, not realizing the other was on the same road at the same time, headed to the same store.  Neither woman wanted to run into any of the fellow alumni who were probably out buying cases of beer and bags of tortilla chips to share on the two floors of the local hotel that night.

It had only been five years since they'd walked across the stage with about seventy other high school seniors, accepting their diplomas, and preparing for the next stages of their lives.

Erin knew not much would have changed since graduation, and wasn't sure why she'd decided to attend the reunion.  She'd left her hometown for a reason, and for the four years she spent on the beautiful West coast, she was sure she would never return.  And yet, she was stopping at the single stop light to allow a single car to pass the intersection in front of her before proceeding down the main street and out of town.  She turned on the radio in her rental car, and a local talk station blared.  Erin turned off the radio.

Linda also knew not much would have changed since graduation, but she'd also stayed in touch with many of her fellow classmates in the past five years.  She was proud of graduating from beauty school, and had fared better than many of those she'd graduated with.  When the reunion invitation came in the mail, she was happy to RSVP right away, and was looking forward to seeing what everyone else hadn't done with their lives.  She waved at her neighbor, smiling broadly, who was walking along the main street, headed to his favorite bar for the night.

Berry Brothers' General Store was in a town as small as the one Erin and Linda had just fled, but being a rival town, was one rarely frequented by the Tiger alumni.  They knew they could get in and out quickly.

Both women spent several minutes perusing the aisles after filling their baskets with the few things they needed.  They were both in the produce section, nearing the lettuce, when they, quite literally, bumped into each other.  Both baskets fell from their hands, the contents spilling.

"Oh, excuse me," Linda said automatically, bending down to start picking things up.

"My fault," Erin said.  She, too, stooped down.

Linda looked at the other woman, and after a moment, realized who she was.  "Erin Colley?" she asked.

"Yes..." Erin looked at Linda.  "Oh, my gosh!  Linda Foreman?"

"Yes!  Well, it's Davis, now."

"You married Henry?"

Linda nodded.  "Oh, my God!  I didn't think I'd see anyone I knew here tonight!"

"Me, either!  That's actually why I came!"  They laughed.

They chatted a little as they finished picking things up.  Linda handed Erin a home pregnancy test, and Erin handed Linda an ice pack.  They smiled, pretending not to notice the items they passed back and forth and chatted about married life, careers, and life after Tiger football.

"It was nice seeing you," Erin said as they reached the checkout lanes.  "Will you be at brunch tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Linda answered.  "Henry will be there, too, of course."

"Good!  You'll meet my fiance."

"Great!"  There was an awkward moment.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Erin said, extending a hand.  Linda took it, and Erin saw the edge of a bruise under her sleeve before Linda pulled back.

"See you tomorrow."