[Daily Debriefing #38, Telling Tale #35, 2440 words]
Watching people one doesn’t not know; be it in the street, on the bus, whilst waiting in a surgery, or even whilst grocery shopping in the supermarket; is a fascinating pastime. Every person is completely different and no-one, but no-one can possibly know what goes on in the minds and the private lives of each individual. It is this aspect of the individual which is most intriguing to a writers; the unknown factor of the individual which needs ‘filling in’. Some writers love to write about people they know and scenarios they have experienced, but for others, it is the unseen aspects of another’s life which most intrigues and acts as lighter fluid to the Zippo that is a writers’ brain. Writers love to fill in the gaps. In another life an avid writer would be a much wasted petty gossip, always filling in the blanks with juicy bits of gore that others relish and manipulate into fact whilst embellishing the details with their very own flavoured of dressing as they fuel the ever hungry and never-ceasing gossip flow that sustains suburban life. In reality, most people despise gossips and frankly most writers are not terribly blessed at the art of conversation and believe their own private affairs and that of others should remain such; private. However, put a writer in front of a computer and they will fill in the blanks in a manner that would outflank even the most virile-tongued of village gossips.
There was a young blonde woman once who walked by my house. I never saw her again beyond that point. She greeted my dog as she walked by and calmed his fervent bark. Her voice was soft and clear, blonde hair fell to her waist and her prance was that of a beautiful gazelle. She intrigued me, thus, I gave her a name and have here-in filled in the blanks and written her story…
‘Datteny’s Garden’ runs to 2440 words. Her world is a realm you do not wish to enter uninvited.
Datteny’s Garden appears in Volume 6 of the Telling Tales Series, which can be purchased from NLB Books Inc.
By @AuthorAnikaKing (Twitter)
Anika King 