Wednesday's Words on a Friday

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along and read it.

This month the words are supplied by Lee and can be found here.

This week's words are:

1. stellar
2. resourceful
3. frivolous
4. revelation
5. catastrophe
6. perspective

and/or:

1. potential
2. embodiment
3. euphoria
4. jeopardise
5. unite
6. groundswell

Here is my story:

The euphoria that accompanied Gloria’s stellar rise to fame was closely followed by the frivolous lifestyle most new young stars live. Partying, spending, more partying, more spending.

Gloria woke up one morning to a revelation. Such a lifestyle could not continue. Her agent had called several times in the previous week, but she had been too busy partying or nursing a hangover to take on the jobs he’d been offering. Taking this road had the potential to end in catastrophe. How many times had she read the society pages and seen so-and-so who had once been famous but was now an alcoholic wreck, broke, no longer beautiful and unable to find work.

“That’s not for me”, she decided. “I refuse to jeopardise my future like this. From this morning, I have a new perspective. I am resourceful, I will find a way to move forward. Already the groundswell of my one-time fans, famous themselves for being as fickle as the winter sun, have moved on to the newest glittery star-in-the-making.”

Opening her windows to the sun and pouring a cup of coffee, Gloria sat at her new kitchen table with her diary and telephoned her mother.
“Mum, how are you? I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch, I’m really, really sorry. There’s been so much partying going on, I’ve barely had a moment to myself, but this morning I realised I don’t want to live this way. I’m calling my agent this morning and tell him I’ll read every script he brings me, I am ready to work.”

Checking through the diary, Gloria found a week pencilled in with ‘visit Mum and Dad’ and made sure to ring it in red, to keep it free for the visit. She needed to re-unite with her family and friends from home. Her lifestyle from now on would be more mature, she would become the embodiment of elegance, reliability and punctuality. No more turning up late for the day’s shooting, no more demanding this or that for her dressing room. From now on, Gloria would style herself on her idols, those famous women who worked for years in character roles, never minding they weren’t first on the playbill, just content to build a career in the business they loved.

“And Mum? I’m going to buy a house too. Can you make me an appointment with a financial adviser that you and Dad trust? I don’t want to use anyone attached to the film industry that might just want to rip off any money I might make.” 

She smiled at the picture of Dame Judi Dench in the magazine beside her cup.