A dialogue

A fictional conversation that rings all too true!

This article has been published here as a contribution to the Soaring Twenties (STSC) Symposium. The Christmas Symposium theme is “fiction” .The STSC is a group of creatives who write, paint, versify and experiment their way through life. Join us!

First, a bit of background. This began life as an exercise in a creative writing class called The 60 Minute Writer, taken by a tutor called Claire Allen. Claire gave us the bare bones of a dialogue, and our task was to add to it in ways that would make it more lively. I’ve put the original prompt in italics, and then my version afterwards.

The original

I hope you enjoy reading it.

‘I don’t think I can do this any more.’

‘What?’

‘You heard me.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I said you heard me.’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘I can’t do this any more. I want out.’

‘Out?’

‘Yes. I’m leaving.’

‘You can’t do that. You can’t just-’

‘-Yes. I can.’

My version

‘I don’t think I can do this any more.’ A few screws bounced out of the box when he slammed it down.

‘What?’ She looked at the sloping bookshelf half-attached to the wall.

‘You heard me.’ He stood up, holding his back, rolling his neck and shoulders.

‘What did you say?’

‘I said you heard me.’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘I can’t do this any more. I want out. I’m not a carpenter.’

‘Out?’

‘Yes. I’m leaving. I need some fresh air. Find a handyman.’

‘You can’t do that. You can’t just-’

‘-Yes. I can. And I am.’

‘Look, why don’t we sit down and have a nice cup of tea?’

‘Why? Do you think that would improve my DIY skills?’

‘No, but it might improve your mood.’

‘How about we have a nice cup of tea, as you put it, and while we’re doing that see if we can find a local handyman who can make a better job of these shelves than I’ve been able to?’

‘OK.’

‘But you make the tea.’

They laughed.