Wednesday's Three Word Wednesday

The words over at Three Word Wednesday are generate, meager and tease.

Strange Context

He gazes at his curved reflection on the spoon, studying his face in the convex bulge and idly thinking of the “Where’s Waldo” character, the funny watch cap, the creepy striped sweater.
He lifts a lip to study his rather sharp right incisor, trying to generate enough forward motion to propel himself past the spoon, away from idle thoughts and back into the present.
“Are you even listening to me?”
Oh, she’s still there. Right. Act natural, smile. Give her all the pearly whites.
“Every single word.”
He says it as a tease, cocks his head playfully, rumples his shoulders in a play that says “I am now yours, receptive.”
Her face is a blank canvas, he thinks. Void of emotional paint; even her lips – he finds them painfully meager – form a straight line of ordinary.
He breaths deeply, ends with a slight cough, readying her for more witty banter.
“You were describing your co-worker’s dilemma, her finding the boss furiously masturbating early one morning in the conference room?”
Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
Her face registers shock, horror. He studies her for a moment, but is drawn back to his image on the spoon. His nose looks so huge, textured.
And drifts off thinking about puppies, why science hasn’t yet found a way to keep them from growing up when she hits him with her napkin as she passes. It ends up draped over the spoon, silencing again his consciousness streaming.
“Fuck you, creep.”
“Yes, my dear, I’ll be happy to get the check.”
He says this while gesturing in slight movements with the little spoon-and-napkin puppet she’s inadvertently created.

Comments

I love the image of "emotional paint" - it is that, isn't it?

Intriguing topic, too... to file under the "what on Earth were they thinking?" file...

Somewhere between Venus and Mars...
pia said…
Wow Thom. You have the most vivid imagination and the most vivid way with words. Wow. And you sick :)
anthonynorth said…
Well I liked it. I always enjoy the way your characters interact, no matter how they're feeling.
Linda Jacobs said…
This made me laugh out loud! Love the puppet at the end.
Anonymous said…
Fantastic Thom... He's off in his own little world and doing a sub-par job of keeping up appearances. Part of me can definitely relate!
Daily Panic said…
I think she could have done worse. I've done my share of ignoring someone seated beside me, but they deserved it. I literally had someone "hitting" on me slapping my leg everytime he thought he said something funny... ugh! I might have to try that shock factor!

I like how real and gritty this is. It makes no apologies. So much a "so what" attitude. it's great with the descriptions.
Timothy P. Remp said…
I picked up a spoon after reading your piece and… started… to

Nice puppet and a very interesting read.

-Tim
My 3ww is here:
http://timremp.blogspot.com/2010/02/of-god-of-death-of-man.html
Thanks, guys. I was mixing more Gatorade at the sink when the first line jumped into my head. Dried off my hands and ran with it.
Andy Sewina said…
Hi Thom. Nicely done, your imagination knows no bounds!
Anya Padyam said…
Hope you are feeling better!
Sending 'get well soon' wishes your way...


A great piece as always... read your comment about the first line! :)

Nice! Thank you for the words and thank you for doing it -even though you are sick:(

thank you for your comment!
lissa said…
I find it funny, thanks for the laugh
Stan Ski said…
Now I understand the phrase 'The mind boggles'.
Thomma Lyn said…
Bwahahahaha! Darkly funny, brilliantly written -- in a word, stellar. You amaze me with your talent for imagery -- you don't just plain "write," you paint word-pictures.
Dee Martin said…
This came from gatorade?? Buahaha. Get some rest - spring is around the corner...
Jules said…
Loved the "bulge" in the spoon, you're simply...simply...amazing,the very way you present the words you write, makes me think a curtain should pull across a stage, and a horn should herald your thoughts and words.
Know what I mean, Jellybean?
Angel said…
He really was off in his own world, huh? Good job.
your imagination leads me in reality :)
Ann (bunnygirl) said…
Are these the kinds of things my husband is thinking about when he's pretending to listen? If so, that explains a lot
pegjet said…
And what do you mix your gatorade with? Vodka?

Kidding aside, this one felt so REAL. Those stupid little things we all do when we are bored but don't let ourselves think about it, and the rambling thoughts and inane conversations we hold even in our own heads.

Well done. I found myself smiling at the end, especially at the inadvertent puppet.
Jay R. Thurston said…
I have been on both ends of this conversation. Is Attention Deficit Disorder genetic? :-)

Wonderful take on a wanderlust mind!
Cecilia Dominic said…
LOL. I think I've met this guy, although thankfully I haven't dated him. :)

CD
Tony Noland said…
Wow, talk about someone being perfectly happy inside his own head!

Great descriptions.
Jen said…
What a peculiar character! But I do relate. I just wish I could commit to distraction as well as he can. Great story.
Kim Batchelor said…
I like the staring at the incisor in a spoon. Sounds like something my father would do.
Tumblewords: said…
There are more of 'him' than one would think! Laughing. Enjoyed the spoon puppet.
irene said…
Gatorade makes you good weird. Glad you ran with it Thom.
Anonymous said…
ah ha love how you merge Wendesday and Friday...
Great piece of flash - well written .
Christian Bell said…
Funny! Nice descriptions throughout, and the puppet image at the end was great.
reflections in a silver spoon...something like the old circus and the house of mirrors...hilarious bit abt the big nose...im still laughin...now whaz for breakfast cheerios.... hope you are feelin better...

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