Prompts stolen from The Orange County Writers Guild:
- The Thermometer of Success
- Back in the Days of Yore
- The Moon is a Friend for the Lonesome to Talk to
Travis tentatively picked up the phone and dialed Benny’s office for the third time today. This time Benny answered using a lousy falsetto. It was definitely Benny, not his girl. Travis couldn’t remember the girl’s name but he could remember her tits. She had really big tits.
“Pettifog Agency, how may I direct your call?” Benny squeaked over the phone.
“Benny, it’s me; Travis. You gotta help me out man.”
“I’m sorry but Mr. Pettifog is in a meeting. May I take a message?” a poor attempt to continue the ruse.
“Benny, you’re not fooling me man. I know it’s you and I need your help. I need a gig. Quit fooling around.”
“All right, Travis you got me.” Benny admitted returning to his normal voice. “But I can’t get you a gig. You’re persona non grata. I even had to take your picture off the wall in my lobby. No hall in the country is gonna touch you, let alone book you. Five years ago you filled the Filmore, and then when… well you know… you broke your thermometer of success Travis, all the mercury spilled out and poisoned both your life and mine. I still have sharks leaning on me every day.”
“Come on Benny, you owe me. How’s your wife?”
“Don’t go there, Travis. Let me work on it. I might be able to book you into the Flame Room in Bakersfield, but I’ll be calling in a lot of markers. You’ll have to find your own transportation and print your own show-bills.”
“Do it, Benny, and thanks.”
25 minutes writing – 10 minutes editing
“Over the Rhine” on the Box to distract me.
Thanks OCWG. I’m stealing your prompts again! Just like old times.
tnkerr-Writing Prompts and Practice 