Sunday, September 9, 2012

Berowne's 134

(For Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "I" is for "Irene")

“You won’t try my energy drink? It’s a perfect way to start the day.”
“No thanks. A nice little cup of coffee, maybe with a touch of milk and sugar, gives me all the breakfast energy I need.”
“I don’t get it. People pay me real money for my work as a professional trainer, but you ignore what I have to say.”
“You probably haven’t noticed – I’m only your sister - but I’m not into weight lifting and all the rest of it. I know you just love that macho reputation, but at times you make yourself almost scary.”
“Whoever said I was scary?”
“Lucille, for one.”
“Lucille? You bring up Lucille? You know as well as I she was a nut job. You couldn’t believe a word she said.”
“Well, the word she said was, you were scary. Once you got mad and broke up the furniture in her apartment.”
“There! You see? Totally untrue! ‘Broke up the furniture’- that’s just plain crazy. We were having an argument and she said stuff that got me a bit upset. She had an old chair she had been trying to get rid of and I broke off one of the legs. That was hardly breaking up the furniture.”
“If breaking up a chair wasn’t breaking up the furniture, what was it?”
“It was helping her get rid of an old chair. But why are we talking about my old girl friend? I broke off with Lucille last year.”
“You broke off? She got a restraining order.”
“Look, Irene. Why are we wasting time talking about her? You said you wanted to talk about Jeff.”
“I know you mean well, Gary. I know you love your sister and you want to protect me and all that good stuff, but it can make my life difficult. I think this is going to call for a revolution in your thinking: it seems you don’t realize that sometimes your actions can be almost lethal. You’re a big guy – six foot three and God knows how many pounds right now.”
“What? Did Jeff claim that I got rough with him, pushed him around? That’s baloney!”
“No, no. It was nothing like that. It was the night I first asked Jeff over to meet the folks. I really thought he might be the guy I had been looking for.”
“Well, that’s wonderful. I sincerely hope it works out that way.”
“I didn’t realize you’d be home. That was the night you usually went to your weight-lifting group or club or whatever it is.”
“Well, tell you the truth, I wanted to meet this Jeff, see what he was like. I only got one sister and I want the best for her.”
“I’ve told you before - I know you don’t get it - but none of this is your business! You have no say in who I go out with, who I invite home! When I saw you talking with Jeff that night, my heart sank. Oh God, I thought, Gary is going to screw this up.”
“Why, that’s crazy. Jeff and I had a fine talk. He’s quite a guy; I admire him. I told him so.”
“Then you may be a bit surprised that I got an email from him today: he has decided we shouldn’t see each other again. Among the reasons he mentioned, he still hasn’t gotten over his talk with you.”
“What? I was friendly, welcomed him into our home. Wished him the best, the whole deal. What was wrong with that?”
“Maybe the part where you mentioned what you’d do if he ever did anything to make your sister unhappy. Breaking both legs or something like that.”
“It was only one leg. But it was a joke, just guy talk! This all hinges on that? And you say he was scared? Ha! Is he a man or a mouse? I don't think he’s right for you after all.”
“I’m going to try to fix things with him. But listen, Gary, because this is important. If you ever see Jeff again – and I hope that won’t happen often – I don’t want you to say anything to him. Nothing! Okay?”
“Fine. Whatever you say. And don’t worry, if ever I do talk with him again, it’ll be just to be friendly and assure him of how much I love my sister and want only what’s best for her.”
(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings)

43 comments:

joanne said...

Too much testosterone, or maybe a bit of steroids....I'll give him a point for loving his sister, though

Unknown said...

Oh, Gary is too heavy handed and probably needs to have some counseling. Hopefully soon, before he goes too far and winds up in jail. I love the way you designed the whole piece around conversations. Just brilliant, Berowne! Thank you for sharing! =D

Kathe W. said...

holy testosterone filled iron man- thank goodness I didn't have brothers like that!

Tess Kincaid said...

Break a leg...hee hee...

Berowne said...

Linda: "Just brilliant, Berowne! Thank you for sharing."
What a fine comment; thanks, Linda.

Roger Owen Green said...

Lessee - I is for Intimidation. Or maybe I is for IDIOT!
I've known guys like him...

R. Burnett Baker said...

Ah, the Alpha-male strikes again! And again!! Sounds like a couple of my family members......

kaykuala said...

This is great,Berowne! A protective brother is a good thing. But he must have overdone it!

Hank

Susan said...

So, you give me the picture of Mr. Innocent as a monster of sorts, at least to his sister. This is a totally original take on the water color prompt, and I like it a lot. I'm thinking of his growing awareness as she talks, or even the tension of the whole conversation--which also has humor, very appropriate to the incredible lightness of the distorted image in the painting.

Berowne said...

Thanks so much for such a thoughtful comment, Susan.

Sueann said...

What's best for her, huh? Ha!
So much said here...so well versed.
Hugs
SueAnn

Lyn said...

Best to take a sip of the energy drink, and shut up! Laughs are best in the morning...or at night!
Leave it to you...

Anonymous said...

Ha! The furniture part was especially funny to me!

Very charming. k.

Silent Otto said...

There is darkness, there is narcissistic merging, a powerful symbol it is . Lucille picked a fine time to leave this nut job !
Great Stuff, Berowne, full of life

Suz said...

oh my...under all the comedy
tragedy

Helen said...

The guy does look a tad menacing! Like a professional wrestler with a black towel draped around his neck and shoulders.

Berowne said...

Kutamun: "Great stuff, Berowne, full of life."
A full-of-life comment - thanks so much.

Berowne said...

Suz: "Under all the comedy,
tragedy."
Is it not ever thus? :-)

21 Wits said...

Oh you know about all that roughness can lead a man into...well brotherly love shall live on right!

Ritva said...

A truly witty take! Looking at the mirror we don't always see what's really there!

Wayne Pitchko said...

nice furniture....nice words....thanks for sharing this

Doctor FTSE said...

I like the way you have managed this extended dialogue entirely convincingly without using "he/she said" at all.

Berowne said...

Always good to hear from Doc FTSE - thanks.

Susan Lindquist said...

A menacing encounter, to say the least. What I find interesting is her ability to confront a brother she knows has a bit of an anger control issue ... can she really trust that iron hand in the velvet glove to not lash out at her? Gives me the creeps ...

Tigerbrite said...

Nice piece of dialogue, pulled me in right to the end.

Sharp Little Pencil said...

Complicated scenario, and yet easy. A brother sometimes "sticks up for little sis" too much and too ham-handedly. Makes me glad I grew up with sisters and with a father who really didn't care...! Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/09/11/comes-the-revolution-for-riley/

Stafford Ray said...

I had a sister like that who trotted all her choices for me home to look over. I had to leave home.

Belva Rae Staples said...

A protective brother may be a bother, but it's nice to be loved just the same. This was a cute story!

The Blog of Bee said...

Thic could almost be my daughter talking to my son although not quite!

Tumblewords: said...

Great take - there are those who know best for everyone. :)

Gattina said...

Makes me speachless ! (for once)
Gattina
ABC Team

Jae Rose said...

I was transported right into this scene it was so seamless..how great it would be to have a big brother to look out for you..jae

Berowne said...

jaerose: "How great it would be to have a big brother to look out for you."
Maybe yes, maybe no. :-)

Sheilagh Lee said...

my younger brother (not a body builder) said this to my husband when we were dating.I was mortified.It really is immaturity and too much insecurity that makes them say this.
Great story Berowne

Old Egg said...

This is quite sad that Jeff himself is so insecure he has to interfere with other peoples lives to build up his perceived self worth. I don't he will ever "get" it. Great observation and conversation.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Fine story Berowne - sometimes it is difficult to stop (over?)protecting little sis or little bro...

Anna :o]

Berowne said...

Thanks, Anna, for your very welcome comment.

Anonymous said...

I was expecting it to end with her threatening to dump out all his protein mixes and waste his steroid injections if he talked to her new BF again.

Berowne said...

Quite a creative idea for an ending, yuanfields - thanks.

RMP said...

I'm not really sure there at the end that he really got what she was saying. Definitely an interesting story.

Suzy said...

Oh lol. I is also for interfering! Loved the post.

Margaret said...

Sounds like she needs to move to another state! :)

Berowne said...

Suzy: "I is also for interfering!"
Cleverrr. :-)

 
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