Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Three Word Wednesday #6

Each week, I will post three (or more) random words. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write something using all of those words. It can be a few lines, a story, a poem, anything. Don't spend too much time on it. It doesn't have to be perfect. The idea is to let your mind wander and write what it will. I'll also write something using the same three words.

Be sure to leave a comment if you participate.

This week's words are:
lipstick
denim
tattoo


She smacked her lips in the mirror, turned her head to one side, then the other. At last, she was satisfied. At 32, part of her was thinking she was too old for this. But mostly she was nervous and excited.

Once she was in the car, she called her best girlfriend. They chatted like schoolgirls until she got to the park.

In a different mirror was the reflection of a man who hadn't had a girlfriend for far too long. He was wearing, among other things, the denim jacket he'd had for fifteen years.

He didn't care for tattoos. They only made him wonder about the events that led to someone getting one. And his opinion on lipstick was that it was best when you couldn't tell she was wearing any.

When he arrived, she was already there, sitting on a park bench. He recognized her from the picture. As he approached, she stood to greet him. Smiling. The most vibrant smile he'd ever seen. Her eyes sparkling and full of life.

Lucky for her, he didn't even notice the lipstick. Lucky for him, denim was back in.

And he'd never forget her tattoo.

"Those lips, those eyes, that tatoo on her thigh. White teeth, red hair. She hated underwear..."

17 comments:

  1. LOVE this story!!
    Is there any reality behind the fiction?

    The switch up between the two characters is genius.
    The back and forth tone allows a depth and insight that a standard story can't provide.

    You're quite talented, ya know?

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  2. While going through my closet getting my cold weather items out, I noticed a spot of color against the dark denim fabric of one of my many jackets. Scratching at it with a fingernail, it came off in tiny metallic flakes. Lipstick.

    How long had it been it there? Did anyone else notice it? My mind went back through the times I had worn that jacket as if it were a slide show. Was I at a party? Was it from that girl with the tattoo at the base of her spine that I playfully referred to as her "tramp stamp"? Was it at the grocery store when a girl and I had a collision of sorts in the condiment aisle?

    I'll never know.

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  3. ah internet dating. ;)

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  4. I know that it's just an exercise but it left me wanting to know more about the characters.

    And if they kissed how could he not notice her lipstick? Know it's just an exercise

    Good writing exercise, Bone, keep it up

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  5. Blogger Boyfriend....I posted.

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  6. Very cool use of the words....you are really good at these exercises. :)

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  7. I could relate to the internet story since that's how BH and I met. I loved your usage of the words. I went a different direction this week. It's the first time I've written tragedy off the cuff without drafting first.

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  8. Struck: Thanks. I think there has been truth to at least some aspect of every story I've written. But this is not a true story, per se.

    J-Mo: I never pictured you the tattoo type :) Thanks for playing! That was a surprise.

    Ms. Sizzle: I've heard of that.

    Pia: Left you wanting to know more is a good thing, right? And good question about the lipstick. Maybe it had faded, or dried, by the time they kissed. Does lipstick do that? I have no clue.

    Lindsy: Blogger boyfriend? Well, I guess that's OK. At least I'm safe from the mono ;-) Thanks for the update.

    RedNeckGirl: Actually, I had a tough time with these three words. I stared at them a long time before an idea for a story came to me.

    Dorothy: Thanks. Looking forward to seeing what you wrote this week.

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  9. I really liked this one, Bone. I think it speaks nicely of how the things we think we want in a mate aren't always as important in the end as we once anticipated.

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  10. Nothing like experiencing a rendevous with a beautiful lady in the park eh?

    I use to be out on tattoos... but my gf has a couple... so now I'm into them. hoot hoot!

    Nothing like internet dating. I've never tried it.. well until I got on MySpace.

    We missed you at dinner last night. There weren't a whole lot of kids there... or... there were a ton of kids there. LOL Maybe next week we can all get together and do dinner again.

    ~K

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  11. I want a tattoo. Been wanting one for a long time. I think I'm starting to sway Nick to my side...he's thinking about getting one now too! Now I just have to decide...what and where?

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  12. makes me wonder what the tatoo was. :)

    I answered your and Pablos' questions today in my Thursday 13

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  13. I come back here everyday, hoping to say something more than "good" or "Fucking fantastic" as it's so very redundant. It's just that you have such a way with words...you're good at it. Or maybe I'm tired and delusional. Either way, keep it up, pal.

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  14. Chica: Thanks. That was definitely one thing I was trying to present.

    Kyle: Yeah, funny how one's views on things can change so quickly.

    Lass: Well if you're gonna get one, may I suggest the small of the back, outside of the thigh, or maybe the ankle. Please nothing in the chest area.

    Carmen: Honestly, most of the tattoos I've seen, I can't tell what the crap they're supposed to be anyway. I usually have to ask :)

    Heather B: You're probably just tired and delusional. Read it again tomorrow and see what you think ;-)

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  15. Awww, this is a sweet post.
    I love it, as always.

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  16. Hmm, that was not a bad story that you left using those 3 words in your original blog. You sure you didn't have to think about it before you wrote it?

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  17. Blondie: Thanks, dear.

    Jeremy: Well, as a commented to RedNeckGirl above, it took me awhile to start writing this one.

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