Sep 03 2009
Biosphere Story Writing Prompt
I decided to try writing a little bit involving some of the characters in the Mars Colonization story. This is set while the main character, Kelsey, is in college and involves her interacting with her room mate Dionne.
The first thing that greeted Dionne when she emerged from her half of the dorm was a pile of dirty dishes. She managed to smooth past the compulsion to smash them right then and there given she had spoken to her room mate several times over the past few days about washing them, given they were mostly hers, Dionne had no interest in baking marble cakes or experimenting with strange pasta concoctions preferring to live off Lean Pockets and ramen noodles, but still nothing had happened.
She wished she’d kept the white board. Then she could have written a huge note on it going, “WASH THE GOD DAMN DISHES!” She was about to print one out in 100 pt font and tape it in multiple spots around the dorm room when Kelsey emerged from her room, sleepily tugging out the braids her hair had apparently been in. It seemed this morning she wasn’t in a very morning mood. Unlike other people Dionne had roomed with her ability to deal with early morning seemed to change from day to day. They’d been living together several months and Dionne still hadn’t gotten her pegged on any score, some days they could spend hours debating the best skin care products and others she was plain Jane scowling at everything and hiding in her room for hours doing who knows what, or just sleeping, it seemed while listening to music that Dionne couldn’t even understand. It was like Jekyll and Hyde and Hyde’s evil twin.
“Why aren’t the dishes clean?” Dionne demanded, “Other people who live here would like to use the sink, you know?”
Kelsey blinked at her, “Those aren’t…my dishes?” she ventured, sounding genuinely confused.
“Yes. They are.” Dionne slammed open one of the cupboards, “These are mine.”
“I use paper plates…” Kelsey said.
“Since when?” Dionne asked, “I have no idea how to cook. Unless the culinary school has been sneaking in here while we’re both in class and bogarting our kitchen they are totally yours. Please wash them like you’ve said you will for the past week. I’m not your maid.”
Kelsey scratched her head and blinked at the sink, doing a very good imitation of someone who thought they’d woken up in the Twilight Zone.
“Or get your boyfriend to do it,” Dionne continued, “Throw them out for all I care. I just want them gone. Please for the love of–”
Now it was Kelsey’s turn to confuse her, “Boyfriend?” she inquired.
Dionne tried not to scream, “Seriously? Are you on drugs?” she said, “Or are you just trying to drive me insane?”
