Writing session today: a cookie

[pegkerr]

I stared at the blank page for awhile and then pulled out my Pocket Muse to look for an approach to break me loose. "Write a scene from a different point of view" it suggested. So I'm giving you a cookie today, since I know it'll never go into the book: I wrote a bit from Agnes's journal.

Agnes's journal

Ingrid got off the school bus scowling over her spelling words. It took a while to convince her that tough and cough were supposed to be difficult, and she shouldn't worry about memorizing the rules for them, because they were, in fact, anarchic words specially designed to give little first-grader girls the fits. She cheered up after we had made an unholy mess in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies.

Solveig, too, was frowning when she came to pick Ingrid up. That girl is working too hard. Even while she was giving Ingrid a kiss, I could tell that her mind was elsewhere. I asked her, "How was work?" which I know she hates, but I always ask her anyway. She started talking about a new project her team is starting to design: an ice palace! Ingrid was intrigued, and her questions drew Solveig out a bit, so that she finally seemed happy and relaxed when they left. I asked them to stay for dinner, but Solveig said no, that they had leftovers to eat at home, and so I was on my own tonight, which did not quite suit me.

I puttered around the townhouse until quite late tonight, feeling restless. I had promised Ruth the next chapter on the book by the 15th, but couldn't quite make myself sit down and go through my notes and work on the draft. I'm not getting as much done during this sabbatical year as I hoped I would. Ignored the damn dishes. Got the impulse to work on pottery again. I think I might go down to the Northern Clay Center and see if I can sign up for a class again.

I went to bed and lay awake for quite awhile, and so have given up and turned on the light and am writing this. Where is this restlessness coming from? It occurred to me today that perhaps I am a little too enmeshed with Solveig and Ingrid. I adore watching Ingrid, and it's been a great way to get closer to her during my year off. But I think I don't see enough other people, and neither do they. Now that I think on it, Solveig has really pulled in and kept to herself the past several years. Well, some of it is just the young motherhood stage that she's in. But I suspect some of it might be the awful shock she got when Gary left her. Perhaps she just hasn't wanted to take a chance on people since then?

But what's my excuse? Well, since I'm on sabbatical and not going to meetings, I don't have to put up with crap from the department. It's alarming how quickly I've become a stick-in-the-mud, though.

Hmph. Well, signing up for a pottery class is probably a good idea. I need to get out more, blow some fresh wind into this old brain of mine. Don't want to dwindle into a doddering old lady.

Cheers,
Peg

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

I wish books could have an "outtakes" section at the back, so everyone could enjoy seeing the various viewpoints and such that never made it into the actual finished product. I really liked this - it felt very real.

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

I like your use of the Northern Clay Center. I wonder if you have a 'year' for when you want this fantasy to happen? NCC has moved at least once since I've been living in Mpls, and other places may as well - giving yourself a 'year' (time frame) for when it happens would ground the setting for me.

I'm looking forward to when you put Ingrid into Wild Rumpus and how she reacts to the chickens!