Absolute Write May Blog Chain

It’s blog chain time again! I enjoyed my April Blog Chain experience so much I decided to join in on the fun for May too. The link in the chain before me was provided by LadyMage and xcomplex will follow me. Check the end of my post for a complete list of participants. They are all talented writers, you’ll be in for some great reading.

Here are the parameters for this month’s challenge:

“Show a character’s approach to relationships in a short scene. A harmless exchange between mother and daughter? A submissive character overwhelmed by a dominant partner? A passionate lover’s quarrel? A forlorn, unrequited letter?

Use your characters’ interaction to show the dynamics of their relationship, show how they’re growing together or growing apart, or just have silly fun. Character descriptions at the beginning are forbidden this time around–let them speak or act for themselves!”

I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day and this little idea popped into my head. So I decided to run with it. This month’s snippet isn’t a part of any current WIP…but maybe it could be.

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Leah (the narrator) and Ben

“Oh!” I gasp, touching the zapped spot on my thigh. Just my cell phone buzzing. It scared the crap out of me. I pull it out of my front pocket and look over my shoulder. We’re not supposed to use cell phones at work. But it’s a text. From Ben. I have to check it. No one’s coming, so I read the text.

Blue panties today.

I feel myself blushing. Even though he’s not talking about my blue panties, I check anyway, just to make sure. Nope. Mine are nude today, like almost always. He’s talking about Melinda’s. She’s the checker in the lane to the right of mine and her pants are always see-through. Our employee guidebook at Sherman’s Farm Stand Grocer says we must wear white pants with our red Sherman’s polo shirts. Melinda hasn’t seemed to realize the only color that isn’t visible under white pants is nude. I can’t see Melinda’s lower half from my register, since the conveyor belt is in the way, but Ben can see, since he works in the lane to the right of hers. There’s an opening on the right side where the cashiers have access to our registers. Ben gets a perfect view from his lane. He likes to give me the report of Melinda’s panties daily. It’s our little joke.

I wonder if it reflects her mood? I text back. She’s been kind of grumpy lately.

I set my phone down on the counter. A woman has come into my lane with a cart full of groceries and kids. The kids are screaming and she’s opening packages of food to appease them.

Before paying? Ben’s text is in view as my phone buzzes against the counter. How tacky.

I snort.

“Excuse me,” the woman says, “Did you say something?”

“Um…paper or plastic?” I ask, trying to save face. My phone buzzes again. I want to check the text so badly, but I don’t. I need to be professional. This job is really important to me. Another buzz. I reach for a bag of apples to weigh and cast a sideways glance at my phone.

Seriously. Her kids look like trolls.

The woman is distracted trying to calm one of her kids, so I press the button to see the next text.

But you look hot.

My heart does a little flip. He said I was hot. He’s never said that before. Ben Seiver said I was hot. Yes. I turn my head over my shoulder to see if he’s watching me and he is. I hold his gaze for a minute before turning back to the woman’s groceries.

Her kids are still screaming and she’s trying to calm them down. She notices I haven’t gotten very far ringing up her sale and she makes an impatient noise. I grab a box of cereal to scan. She turns back to her kids. It’s then I notice her daughter. I’m not sure what it is, but I can tell the girl must have special needs. The other kids are fighting for attention while the woman tries to take care of her daughter. I start to feel a bit bad for the woman and I scan her items a little faster. She’s just doing her best.

The woman pays and leaves and I look back to my phone for another message from Ben.

Now that the freak show is gone, back to Melinda. You might be right on the mood. She’s hoarding tissues over there.  

It’s not really right for Ben to make fun of that family. And I see Melinda dabbing her eyes behind me. I wonder why she is so upset. Ben makes a silly face and imitates Melinda behind her back. He’s just trying to be funny. I should laugh at this. There’s no harm in a little joke, right?

I can’t think of anything else to say so I text back, LOL.

I slip the phone into my pocket and look over at Ben. He winks at me as he starts to scan another customer’s order. He makes an obscene gesture with a sausage when the guy’s not looking. Yeah. Funny. That’s it. Ben’s just really funny. Hot and funny. And his texts have gotten so flirty. I need to get over myself.

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Be sure to check out the other participants in this month’s chain:

orion_mk3 – http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month’s post)
Proach – http://desstories.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Yoghurtelf – http://thefarseas.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
AuburnAssassin – http://clairegillian.com (link to this month’s post)
aimeelaine – http://www.aimeelaine.com/blog (link to this month’s post)
Della Odell – http://dellaodell.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
jkellerford – http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
LadyMage – http://www.katherinegilraine.com/ (link to this month’s post)
pezie – http://www.erinbrambilla.com/ <—-YOU ARE HERE
xcomplex – http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Inkstrokes – http://drlong67.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
ElizaFaith13 – http://www.girlspwn.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
dolores haze – http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
juniper – http://www.katjuniper.com (link to this month’s post)
Steam&Ink – http://steamandink.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)