NEC Creative Writing

camille’s “person revision”

camillewhite — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:27:16 +0000

Her hair has gone soft again, like an infant’s, or like the underfeathers of a bird: white, and flush with the skin. The cheeks droop like sacks past the corners of the lips. The lips have lost their plump. And the nose: a little Irish potato. There is a hole in her head, a disease eating her right temple and moving toward her ear. It is like another mouth, open and screaming. They have gauzed it over, taped it shut. The bandage is a brighter white than her hair, and heavier. It takes away the symmetry. They call it a “dressing”; the nurse changes it daily. A “dressing”- as if it were something lovely for a salad, or Thanksgiving.

She wears her wedding band on a gold chain around her neck. Her blue-veined fingers, claw-like from the arthritis, reach up frequently to touch it, as if to be sure it is still there.

When I visit her, she calls me Sarah, which is my sister’s name, even though she helped to name me Camille. “L is the prettiest letter. Every girl’s name should have an ‘l’ in it,” she used to tell my mother. She smiles a lot. I think she is brave. But she is afraid of going to Hell. Oh, Granny-kay! Of all people! Sometimes she wants me to read her Irish proverbs. She has a little book of them. Or we talk about saints. She remembers the saints’ names just fine. Cecilia, she tells me, is the patron saint of music.

portfolio: person description

amandaromano — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:08:47 +0000

She sits on her bed with her laptop, writing. She looks focused and a little nervous. Her sweatpants and large t-shirt are old, probably from college or high school. Her blond hair is up in a pony tail. She is mumbling to herself, wondering if the sentence she just wrote is good enough. The only sound other than her typing and some mumbles is music. The music is playing quietly and soothes her. It’s not something that would be soothing to me, but it reminds her of the time she spent in Paris, and that relaxes her. She gets up just to get another book, then goes right back to writing her paper. It’s warm in her room, I like it, she doesn’t. My cat walks in and she yells at it to leave (not because she doesn’t like it, she just doesn’t want it to scratch her bed). She keeps working intently and then she notices that I’ve been sitting there, and she asks me if I want her to make me some lunch.

portfolio: place description

amandaromano — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:06:53 +0000

I go into my old Volvo station wagon. It’s rusty and old looking . The inside smells musty. When I sit in the driver’s seat, the brown leather is cold and makes a cracking noise. The red mat under my feet has ridges. There’s a “hunk” air freshener that doesn’t smell like anything anymore but still looks really funny. The plastic shelf next to my seat is broken, and because of that it’s really pointy. When I sit in the passenger side font seat it feels uncomfortable and little strange. The back seats are complete with pink pillows. It feels uncomfortable sitting there too.
I have memories driving it for the first time alone..driving to Dulcie’s and to Tutti Harps and to pick up Lakshmi. I used to listen to John Mayer on the cassette player that could be removed from the car.

portfolio- dialogue

amandaromano — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:48:05 +0000

L: Montreal was so much fun!

A: Really, what did you do??

L: Well, we took the train there, so we watched a lot of movies on the way. When we got there, we went sight seeing and we went out every night.

I: Cool, what kind of places did you go to at night?

L: Well, one time we went to a club and for a few nights we went to this one place that was sort of a bar/restaurant. And I met these really hot Canadian guys with french accents and I made out with one of them, he was so hot.

A: Man, big L you’re so crazy.

I: So true. I didn’t do anything fun like that over spring break. But, I did get my eyebrows waxed yesterday.

A: So exciting.

I: So true. Oh yea, I’m going into the city next weekend, can I stay at your apartment big L?

L: Yea, sure, but Peter’s probably going to be staying over .

A: Oh, I forgot about Peter, how’s he doing?

L: He’s great! We’ve been hanging out a lot. I met his parents last a few weeks ago!

I: Wow, it sounds like it’s getting pretty serious.

L: Well actually, last night I told him that I loved him.

A: Whoa whoa whoa, but you just started dating 2 months ago!

L: Yea, I know, but the feelings are there, so we figured we might as well say it.

I: Well, I can’t wait to meet him.

A: Wait a second, didn’t you just say that you made out with a french guy last week?!

L: Yea
A: You can’t make out with a french guy and then tell your boyfriend that you love him for the first time 4 days later!!!

I: That’s true!!

L: Really? But we just made out and it’s not like I’ll ever see him again!

I: L, you can’t make out with a guy and then tell you’re boyfriend you love him!

A: You really can’t.

L: Oh well

Excess Baggage, revised

amandaromano — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:38:27 +0000

Scene 1
Brooklyn. 1995. Summer. Rosalie and Nunzio are getting ready to go on vacation to Atlantic City for a week with their two sons John and Sal. Everyone is frantically trying to get ready.

R: (on the phone) Ma! You’ll never believe what just happened! (pause) No, better. Me and Nun just won a trip to Atlantic City!!

J: Yo Ma, where are my swim trunks?

R: Johnny, under your bed. (phone) Well, we were shopping in the mall for Nunzio’s new beeper (pause) Yea I know Ma, but he needed a new one.

S: Ma, can I bring Paul?

R: No, the package is just for 4 people. (phone) Anyway, we put our name in this contest…yea Ma, we leave tomorrow.

N: Ro, make sure you get someone to watch Pork Chop.

R: Ok, Nun. (phone) Ma, do you know anyone who can watch pork chop? (pause) Yea, but they are out of town. (pause) Ok, I’ll give her a call. (to all) Make sure you’re ready by tonight, I don’t want to worry about your shit in the morning. (phone) Hey Rita, it’s Ro, is your daughter still around this summer, I need someone to watch Pork Chop. (pause) Yea, she has to come here cause of his cage. (pause) Good, and tell her we’ll pay her too. We are leaving in the morning, I’ll leave the key with the super and a list of things she has to do in the apartment. (to Nunzio) Linda, Rita’s daughter is going to watch Pork Chop (to phone) Well, we just won this trip to AC…. (scene ends with her bragging about trip)

Scene 2

Everyone’s off to Atlantic City, Linda’s on the way to the apartment to watch pork chop, the rottweiler.

L: (on phone with her boyfriend) Hey babe, I’m on my way to Ro’s, you want to come over? (pause) Yea, I told you last night, I’m watching her disgusting dog for the week. (pause) Yea. (pause) You remember where it is? (pause) Ok, bye.

(walks into the apartment)

(to herself) Where is this gross animal?

She goes into the kitchen and looks in the fridge. She suddenly hears growling behind her. She turns around and pork chop lunges at her. She’s fighting for her life. She sees a cast iron pan and struggles to get her hands on it. She finally gets it and beats him with it. Pork Chop is dead.

She stares at the dead dog. After a few minutes, her boyfriend Paul arrives.

P: What the fuck happened?

L: I killed him.

P: You what?!

L: He jumped on me, I was just defending myself! What should I do??

P: I don’t know, you’re on your own.

L: You have to help me.

P: Yea right, I need to watch the game tonight, I have money on it. I’m going over to Ralph’s, I’ll call you later.

L: You’re such an asshole.

(Paul leaves)

Scene 3

After a while of thinking about this mess, Linda decides to call Rosalie and tell her that the dog is dead.

L: (on the phone) Hey Ro, it’s Linda. (pause) Yea, I got in okay, but something happened. It’s pretty bad. (she pauses) Pork Chop is dead. He was dead when I came into the apartment. (pause) It looks like he coughed up blood, I think he was sick. (pause) I’m soo sorry, maybe you should come home. (pause) Oh, Nunzio just signed up for Sinatra karaoke? Ok, I guess I’ll just take care of it. (pause) That’s nice, Ro, I’m glad you guys are taking advantage of the heart shaped hot tub. (pause) Oh man, Liberace on ice, I guess you can’t miss that. Well I’ll take care of it, see you soon.

Linda starts calling animal hospitals to see if anyone can take this dog. She finally finds one that will take the dog, but they won’t pick it up.

L: (to herself) What the hell, what am I supposed to do? I don’t have money for a car service. I guess I’m going to have to take the subway. This fucking sucks.

She finds a suitcase and puts the dog in it. She rolls it to the subway and gets on the train. After a while, she gets off the train. There are 3 flights of steps. She starts struggling to carry it up the stairs. She can’t do it. Suddenly, a man comes up behind her.

Man: Can I help you?

L: (hesitating) Um, no it’s ok, I can do it.

Man: Are you sure, I don’t mind. It looks like your having a hard time.

L: Well, ok, that’s nice of you.

They start walking up the stairs

L: I really appreciate this.

Man: No problem. (pause) This is so heavy, what do you have in here? bricks?

L: Um no, it’s just computer parts…for work.

Man: Well they shouldn’t make you carry this around, it’s too heavy.

L: Yea, I know, I’m going to talk to my boss about it.

They get to the top of the stairs.

L: Thank you so much, I really appreciate it