At 15, Kenny called me out of the blue and asked me to be his girlfriend. The fact that we spoke from our respective homes nightly and hadn’t yet met seemed like a mere technicality.
Ooh I loved this essay and never saw the ending coming. ;-) I would have had a canary if one of my friends pulled that kind of mean prank, especially for several months. Your story brought me right back to those boy-crazy days of middle/high school when that was all we thought about. Great job!
I hope your trip down memory lane wasn't too rough! It's amazing how much we thought about boys back then. You'd think I'd be lucky, as a memoirist, to have all of my diaries from way back. But seriously, ALL I talked about were the boys I liked who didn't like me back. Sigh.
Cathy, I hear ya! I have 30-something diaries I wrote between 1977-1990. The earlier ones were all about boys, having my period, how fat I was, what diet I was on that month, and all the insane friend drama. Luckily we can laugh (maybe?) now but back then it was intense! I even wrote an essay about a boy who stood me up for a double date. Apparently I'm still somewhat traumatized by it!
As Darrell Hammond-as-Sean-Connery said on SNL's Jeopardy, "The Penis Mightier." I'm just glad we both have enough fodder to keep us busy for a good long while. I LOVED your winning flash essay, too, Jen. Woo hoo!!! And I am so glad I get to tell you that. Now I'm going to read your essay on The Rumpus.
Quick correction for a too quick pull of the trigger w no self editing (shame, shame). In addition to the extra article "a an inspired..." it was a Flash Essay, not Fiction. The author regrets the error. Cathy Alter deserves better.
Your correction made me laugh out loud, Ron. I DO deserve better! And thank you for the compliments. I've been on a bit of a bully kick lately, writing about some of my high school bullies as well (complete with photos that I captioned myself.) Ah, sweet justice!!
Sad, but a great story of a an inspired and mean prank. Interesting the fake "Kenny" lived long after he-she was unmasked. No better illustration of what makes a terrific Flash Fiction piece.
What a mean trick. I get the anticipation, the thrill of it all, and then to have it pulled out from under you, especially by a so-called friend. The writing of it is as if I were standing next to you. Thank you!
Oh what a nice comment to receive. Thank you! I was trying to write this essay like a horror story - if that makes sense. I wanted to reader to have that same heart pounding that I had back in 8th grade. My heart still pounds whenever I think about it.
If you can believe it, Lina, I was in 8th grade when this happened. Unfortunately, the experience was the first of many. Why, I wonder, can girls innately single out their perfect targets?
It's weird to thank you for your comment, but thank you. I read a draft of this essay at an open mic over the summer and I could hear the air leaving the lungs of so many in the room.
Ooh I loved this essay and never saw the ending coming. ;-) I would have had a canary if one of my friends pulled that kind of mean prank, especially for several months. Your story brought me right back to those boy-crazy days of middle/high school when that was all we thought about. Great job!
I hope your trip down memory lane wasn't too rough! It's amazing how much we thought about boys back then. You'd think I'd be lucky, as a memoirist, to have all of my diaries from way back. But seriously, ALL I talked about were the boys I liked who didn't like me back. Sigh.
Cathy, I hear ya! I have 30-something diaries I wrote between 1977-1990. The earlier ones were all about boys, having my period, how fat I was, what diet I was on that month, and all the insane friend drama. Luckily we can laugh (maybe?) now but back then it was intense! I even wrote an essay about a boy who stood me up for a double date. Apparently I'm still somewhat traumatized by it!
As Darrell Hammond-as-Sean-Connery said on SNL's Jeopardy, "The Penis Mightier." I'm just glad we both have enough fodder to keep us busy for a good long while. I LOVED your winning flash essay, too, Jen. Woo hoo!!! And I am so glad I get to tell you that. Now I'm going to read your essay on The Rumpus.
Haha, so true about The Penis. And you are too kind. :-) I look forward to reading more of your work Cathy! Have a fabulous weekend.
xoxoxoxox
Quick correction for a too quick pull of the trigger w no self editing (shame, shame). In addition to the extra article "a an inspired..." it was a Flash Essay, not Fiction. The author regrets the error. Cathy Alter deserves better.
Your correction made me laugh out loud, Ron. I DO deserve better! And thank you for the compliments. I've been on a bit of a bully kick lately, writing about some of my high school bullies as well (complete with photos that I captioned myself.) Ah, sweet justice!!
Sad, but a great story of a an inspired and mean prank. Interesting the fake "Kenny" lived long after he-she was unmasked. No better illustration of what makes a terrific Flash Fiction piece.
Bravo
What a mean trick. I get the anticipation, the thrill of it all, and then to have it pulled out from under you, especially by a so-called friend. The writing of it is as if I were standing next to you. Thank you!
Oh what a nice comment to receive. Thank you! I was trying to write this essay like a horror story - if that makes sense. I wanted to reader to have that same heart pounding that I had back in 8th grade. My heart still pounds whenever I think about it.
What is surprising twist... And a great example of "mean girls" in high school. You survived and are a nicer better writer because of it!
If you can believe it, Lina, I was in 8th grade when this happened. Unfortunately, the experience was the first of many. Why, I wonder, can girls innately single out their perfect targets?
Oh, that took the air out of my lungs. The savagery of certain young women!
It's weird to thank you for your comment, but thank you. I read a draft of this essay at an open mic over the summer and I could hear the air leaving the lungs of so many in the room.