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. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

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 prompts are supplied by Lee and can be found here.

This week's words/prompts are: 

1. mythology 
2. contemporary 
3. instinct 
4. overture 
5. banter 
6. groundbreaking  

and/or: 

1. barrier 
2. captivate 
3. companion 
4. unique 
5. affair 
6. interior 

Here is my story:  

Richard hung back in the corner of the room, wishing he hadn't come. This office party was going to be just as disastrous as every other. Since high school, there had been a barrier between himself and every other person on the planet it seemed. 
As he sipped his soft drink, he gazed about the interior and marvelled at the easy banter between all the others. He had no idea how to even begin making an overture to another person. 
In high school, he had read every book the library had on how to make friends, how to be outgoing etc, but had not been able to put into practise any of the methods. Richard watched as the newest girl, Lucy captivated her companion with her unique perspective on contemporary architecture. 

He watched as Derek moved in closer to her, knowing what would happen. As always, Derek would begin an affair with this young lady, as he had so many times before. She would be devastated and heartbroken in six weeks if the pattern ran true. Surely one of the other girls had warned her? Maybe Lucy thought she could be "the one". 

Richard's instinct was to butt in and somehow rescue Lucy, but his feet refused to move and his voice was barely a squeak. Perhaps instead, he could be there to pick up the pieces?
Or even, just maybe, Lucy would be the heartbreaker this time and Derek would get a taste of his own medicine? 

He hung his head, knowing again that it would never happen. He should never have joined this firm, should never have studied architecture. 
He was very good at his job, winning awards for several designs, but his heart belonged to Mythology and in a groundbreaking moment, wondered if perhaps he could design something that would incorporate his fanciful ideas. 

A hotel perhaps, where people could hold renaissance parties set in those Mythological times. His face brightened at the idea and for the first time, someone noticed. Hannah, herself very shy, suddenly saw the interest in his face, a sparkle in his eyes and began crossing the room.

Comments

  1. Love that we finish on a hint of hope and romance. I do hope that Hannah is the one for him - and that Derek DOES get a taste of his own medecine. Soon.

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    1. Elephant's Child; I'm not sure about Derek, but Richard and Hannah do end up together.

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  2. Ah, happy conclusion at last at an office party. Go Richard! Go Hannah!

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    1. Susan Kane; go indeed. There's wedding bells in their future.

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  3. Ooh, I like where this is heading. Get him Hannah.

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    1. Arkansas Patti; she gets him, they end up together.

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  4. A terrific story, River. The words weren't in anyway a challenge to you. Your story using this week's words is just great. Well done, indeed! High praise to you! :)

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    1. Lee; thank you very much, I did spend a lot of time staring at the words wondering what on earth I was going to write. Once I started it just wrote itself.

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  5. Bob and Carl had built a snow barrier to hold back Don and his companions. Don's group were unique with the lads older than Bob and Carl, bigger too. Suddenly Patty skipped over, all 100 lbs of her. Darn cute, she captivated Don with her unique blue eyes. She blinked at him and he was stunned. "Hey, Donnie! Let us end this stupid...affair! The snow is melting, and darn it." Patty clutched his hand. "I need to get warm." Instinct kicked in, and Don smiled. He recognized an overture when it came about. No bantering about here.

    Bob and Carl would live to fight another day.

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    1. Susan Kane; nicely done. Warm is always better than a snow fight when the snow is already slushing.

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  6. A very nice turn for the better!

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    1. messymimi; I do like the way it ended, although for Richard and Hannah it's just a beginning.

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  7. I hope Richard returns Hannah's interest. How I love happy endings.

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    1. jenny_o; he definitely does, I do like a happy ending.

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  8. Every office party needs a Hannah for the Richard!

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    1. Val; I've never worked in an office, so don't know about office parties, but there should always be a Hannah for every Richard.

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  9. Oh a story with a happy ending. Thank you. I felt with poor Richard not being a party dude myself. So happy it ended well.

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  10. Oh, River. I think I´m Richard, just that I left the field of Architecture in time!
    And minus awards, too, LOL ;-)
    I have a little story from the flow magazine on our living room door about a man who started smiling at strangers and they mostly smiled back, too.
    Difficult now with the masks on, but possible, as eyes can smile, too, I found out.
    Nice story. To Hannah and Richard and a bad wake-up to Derek!

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    1. Iris Flavia; thank you. Richard doesn't leave architecture, but he does go in a different direction with his designs incorporating mythological components and Hannah helps of course.

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  11. So well done, all just flowed beautifully. Good on him for going to another.
    Take care,

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    1. Margaret D; thank you. I do like my stories to flow well.

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  12. Those forced office parties are absolute torture for some people, and you expressed Richard's discomfort beautifully. Thanks for allowing Hannah to "rescue" him. Sounds like a perfect match. Well done!

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    1. Susan; thank you. Richard and Hannah are a perfect match, both having interests in mythology as well as architecture. Richard's discomfort echoes my own when in large crowd situations.

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  13. I have always believed that office parties were the most horrible events taking place on the planet. I am glad there was some light of hope at the end for Richard.

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    1. Granny Annie; I'm very glad I never worked in an office so never had to attend such a gathering.

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  14. Replies
    1. Dora; I know a few Dereks and know to avoid them too.

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  15. Oh, that was a cool ending. It is true, there's a lid for every pot. :)

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    1. Magical Mystical Mimi; Ha Ha! My mum used to say that :)

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