"Don't panic, Penny girl," she told herself. "You can figure this out." Penny leaned against a tall building, allowing the cool stone to soothe her anxiety. She watched the busy people scurrying by her. Across the street, a brown truck pulled up beside the curb. The driver jumped out, whistling a merry tune. Penny gasped. She knew him!
"Well, well. Thank you, Lord!" she whispered to the sky. Penny jogged slowly across the street, narrowly missing a Volkswagen beetle racing through the intersection.
"Watch out, Miss!"
A combination of running to avoid the insane beetle and also turning to acknowledge the owner of the deep voice was too much for the frazzled runner. She tripped, stumbled and fell face first into the pavement. BONK!
"OW! Oh...." Penny moaned. How embarrassing! And painful.
"Are you OK?" Raoul squatted down beside her. "Miss?"
Penny rolled over and sat up. She turned her skint face up towards the handsome man in brown. "Oh, hi," she said sheepishly.
Raoul studied the bleeding, tangled girl. "Here, let me help you up," he said. He helped Penny limp along to the curb behind his truck. "Sit down. Are you OK? Do you feel OK?"
"Well, it hurts." She tried to smile.
"Looks like you skinned your cheek a little. I think I have a First Aid kit in my truck. Hold on," he said and disappeared around the truck.
Penny touched the wound. "Ouch." She looked at the blood on her fingertips. "Now I am beautiful for sure," she whispered to herself. What is up with the gorgeous man finding her in frazzled situations? Gorgeous Raoul returned and bandaged her cheek.
He studied her face.
"What?" She looked at him incredibly self-conscious.
"You look pretty cute with a band-aid on your cheek," he said with a smile. "Snoopy looks great on you."
"Yeah, I was kinda disappointed you didn't have a Strawberry Shortcake band-aide in there. What's wrong with you, anyway?" Penny said.
"So... You wanna give me your number now?" Raoul asked her.
"Maybe. You did save me and all." Penny giggled.
"Yes, I sure did. That certainly counts for something."
"I wondered if you recognized me," Penny said.
"The minute I saw you... Miss." He winked. She blushed.
"Anyway..." Penny looked away. "I'm lost."
"Lost? It's me. Raoul. The guy who delivered your mom's package? You're lost? What?"
"No. I know." Penny laughed. "I mean, that's not what I meant. I am loooost. Lost in the city," she said. "I went for a jog and, well, kind of got lost."
"Lost, huh? Hummm... Well, good luck finding your way back. Bye," he said and stood up to leave. Penny's face fell. "Just kidding, Penny! I'll take you back home. After all, I am your hero today."
He helped her into the truck and they were off.
"I still have a few more deliveries to make. Mind riding along?" Raoul asked.
Penny tried to hide her smile. "Nope, not at all."
Friday, December 5, 2008
Penny Runs In the City
"Olah and congratulations! You have been selected to join us on the cruise of a lifetime!"
"At least Iʼm not the only one with an accent!" Penny yelled just before she let out another groan and threw her phone on the bed. With her adrenaline pumping from her aggravation and the onset of a headache from her smoky bleach filled apartment, Penny decided it was time for a jog.
Despite being in the heart of the city, the crisp, cool air smelled delicious. Penny breathed deeply as she made her way to the park. Autumn had always been Pennyʼs favorite season. It was only September yet the trees were already displaying a preview of their colors. Never in her life had she seen a purple leaf. She certainly did not have them back home. Relaxing a little Penny chuckled to herself as she thought of how the majesty of the northern trees made up for the boldness of the northern people.
With her worries on the pavement behind her Penny reflected on her day. That morning before the rising sun competed with the lights of the city, she had bought a bagel on Broadway. The lights were still bright and dazzling. Penny dreamed of the day she could read her name in those very lights. When that happens, spending $2.00 on a bagel will not feel like a splurge. After the morning bagel, Penny had spent the early afternoon picking up applications just in case her savings ran out before she got her first role.
Now, as the sun began to set, and Pennyʼs headache drifted away into the chilly night air, it was time to head home. Penny awoke from her thoughts and it occurred to her that she had been running in auto mode. She had no idea where she was. She had run through the park, but that was at least twenty minutes ago, and she did not know which direction it was in. Trying not to panic, she jogged to the nearest intersection. She had never even heard of those streets before.
"Itʼs fine," Penny thought as she reached into the pocket of her warm up for her cell phone. "I will just call my landlady and get directions." Pennyʼs heart sank as she realized that her cell phone was still on her bed in her apartment.
"At least Iʼm not the only one with an accent!" Penny yelled just before she let out another groan and threw her phone on the bed. With her adrenaline pumping from her aggravation and the onset of a headache from her smoky bleach filled apartment, Penny decided it was time for a jog.
Despite being in the heart of the city, the crisp, cool air smelled delicious. Penny breathed deeply as she made her way to the park. Autumn had always been Pennyʼs favorite season. It was only September yet the trees were already displaying a preview of their colors. Never in her life had she seen a purple leaf. She certainly did not have them back home. Relaxing a little Penny chuckled to herself as she thought of how the majesty of the northern trees made up for the boldness of the northern people.
With her worries on the pavement behind her Penny reflected on her day. That morning before the rising sun competed with the lights of the city, she had bought a bagel on Broadway. The lights were still bright and dazzling. Penny dreamed of the day she could read her name in those very lights. When that happens, spending $2.00 on a bagel will not feel like a splurge. After the morning bagel, Penny had spent the early afternoon picking up applications just in case her savings ran out before she got her first role.
Now, as the sun began to set, and Pennyʼs headache drifted away into the chilly night air, it was time to head home. Penny awoke from her thoughts and it occurred to her that she had been running in auto mode. She had no idea where she was. She had run through the park, but that was at least twenty minutes ago, and she did not know which direction it was in. Trying not to panic, she jogged to the nearest intersection. She had never even heard of those streets before.
"Itʼs fine," Penny thought as she reached into the pocket of her warm up for her cell phone. "I will just call my landlady and get directions." Pennyʼs heart sank as she realized that her cell phone was still on her bed in her apartment.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Encounters
“Hi, Penny. Nice to know you,” he said, shaking her bleach-scented hand. “I’m Raoul.” He glanced around her apartment. “Hm, nice place you’ve got here. Are you new to the city?”
Penny blushed. “Yes, I just moved here.”
“From Mississippi.”
She furrowed her brow. “Yes. How did you know? Is my accent that noticeable?” She’d been working on masking her southern drawl, but it must have been more prevalent when she was singing to herself.
He smiled and cocked his head to the side. “Nope. It was the return address on this package that says ‘From Mom’.”
“Oh, right.” She smiled back and took the package from him. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
She realized with a jolt that she had no cash and not even a cold drink to offer the deliveryman. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money to tip you,” she said, grimacing. “As you might have guessed, I’ve spent it all on this luxurious walk-up.” She gestured to the dingy walls and peeling linoleum.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he said, shaking his head. “I’d rather have your number, anyway.”
She was taken aback by his boldness. I guess that’s something about New Yorkers I’ll have to get used to, she thought, looking at the floor and blushing further. “Um, well, I don’t have a phone line connected yet.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. She didn’t have a landline, but then she didn’t intend to get one, either.
At that moment, her cell phone started ringing from the next room. Raoul laughed out loud, a warm and cheerful sound. “I see. Well, have a good day, Penny. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Penny threw back her head and let out an exasperated groan, stomping back to her room to grab the phone from her purse. She looked at the display screen and saw a number she didn’t recognize. A call from one of the agents she’d met with, perhaps? Taking a deep breath, she flipped open the phone. “Hello?” she said sweetly, hoping she didn’t sound too flustered, or too southern.
Penny blushed. “Yes, I just moved here.”
“From Mississippi.”
She furrowed her brow. “Yes. How did you know? Is my accent that noticeable?” She’d been working on masking her southern drawl, but it must have been more prevalent when she was singing to herself.
He smiled and cocked his head to the side. “Nope. It was the return address on this package that says ‘From Mom’.”
“Oh, right.” She smiled back and took the package from him. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
She realized with a jolt that she had no cash and not even a cold drink to offer the deliveryman. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money to tip you,” she said, grimacing. “As you might have guessed, I’ve spent it all on this luxurious walk-up.” She gestured to the dingy walls and peeling linoleum.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he said, shaking his head. “I’d rather have your number, anyway.”
She was taken aback by his boldness. I guess that’s something about New Yorkers I’ll have to get used to, she thought, looking at the floor and blushing further. “Um, well, I don’t have a phone line connected yet.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. She didn’t have a landline, but then she didn’t intend to get one, either.
At that moment, her cell phone started ringing from the next room. Raoul laughed out loud, a warm and cheerful sound. “I see. Well, have a good day, Penny. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Penny threw back her head and let out an exasperated groan, stomping back to her room to grab the phone from her purse. She looked at the display screen and saw a number she didn’t recognize. A call from one of the agents she’d met with, perhaps? Taking a deep breath, she flipped open the phone. “Hello?” she said sweetly, hoping she didn’t sound too flustered, or too southern.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Cleaning Up
Being the type of person who faces tough problems head on, Penny decided to tackle the grungy bathroom first. Heck, she had on rubber gloves, she might as well get this one over with. Scrubbing at the icky stains reminded her of something her Mom used to tell her when she would get overwhelmed cleaning her messy room, "Just start in one corner and go around the room cleaning as you go." Penny's Mom had always been good at the whole cleaning thing. Way better than Penny herself. Keeping her room clean as a little girl just never seemed like a top priority...there were always more fun and exciting items on her list of things to do.
Humming to herself, Penny continued scrubbing the bathroom making some good progress. Finally, all she had left was the floor. Starting in the corner farthest away from the door, she got down on her hands and knees. Using the "spray and wipe" method, she began to make that floor shine. As she scrubbed, she found herself getting into the song in her head; it was a hit from a new musical she had recently seen. The song talked about the passionate hopes and dreams of a young artist like herself. Feeling the words of the song as if she were singing about her own new endeavor, Penny belted out the last long notes of the ballad. Sitting back on her feet at the door of the bathroom and sighing with satisfaction, she jumped when she heard a noise behind her.
A gorgeous man in brown stood in her living room offering her a clipboard and pen to sign for a package. Penny recognized her Mom's handwriting and smiley faces all over the box. Good old Mom. She probably sent that the moment I drove away.
"Sorry to startle you, Ma'am, but your door was open and I have a delivery for you. Beautiful voice, by the way..."
He had a smile in his eyes as he said those last words. Penny was suddenly very aware of her dishevelled appearance starting with her frizzy hair and ending with her yellow rubber gloves. Great first impression, she thought. Oh, well.
"Thanks." Penny ripped off the gloves that reeked of Clorox and accepted the pen, signing for the package. Stepping out of her comfort zone, she impulsively stuck out her hand, "I'm Penny!"
Humming to herself, Penny continued scrubbing the bathroom making some good progress. Finally, all she had left was the floor. Starting in the corner farthest away from the door, she got down on her hands and knees. Using the "spray and wipe" method, she began to make that floor shine. As she scrubbed, she found herself getting into the song in her head; it was a hit from a new musical she had recently seen. The song talked about the passionate hopes and dreams of a young artist like herself. Feeling the words of the song as if she were singing about her own new endeavor, Penny belted out the last long notes of the ballad. Sitting back on her feet at the door of the bathroom and sighing with satisfaction, she jumped when she heard a noise behind her.
A gorgeous man in brown stood in her living room offering her a clipboard and pen to sign for a package. Penny recognized her Mom's handwriting and smiley faces all over the box. Good old Mom. She probably sent that the moment I drove away.
"Sorry to startle you, Ma'am, but your door was open and I have a delivery for you. Beautiful voice, by the way..."
He had a smile in his eyes as he said those last words. Penny was suddenly very aware of her dishevelled appearance starting with her frizzy hair and ending with her yellow rubber gloves. Great first impression, she thought. Oh, well.
"Thanks." Penny ripped off the gloves that reeked of Clorox and accepted the pen, signing for the package. Stepping out of her comfort zone, she impulsively stuck out her hand, "I'm Penny!"
Monday, September 22, 2008
Chapter One; The Apartment
Penny closed the door and leaned her slim back against the scratchy frame. The room smelled like cigarette smoke. She closed her eyes and inhaled the obnoxious scent.
"Home, sweet, home," she said quietly. The old apartment was bare save for her mattress on the floor in the the room she optimistically dubbed "the suite". The closet-size "suite" was the nicest room in the decrepit place. Only one wall had a hole in it and there was still some paint from the previous tenant visible. The rest of the apartment wasn't quite so lucky. The kitchen walls held the stains of nicotine and burnt food. The bathroom wall... She didn't want to know what those stains were from. Brown nicotine covered the walls of the front room and there were various sizes of holes scattered throughout the room.
"But," she whispered to the nicotine walls. "It's mine. All mine. I can do this." She smiled at the grungy home.
Moving to New York to follow her dream of becoming a Broadway actress motivated Penny's smile. Who cared about stains and holes in the walls when the shiny stars of Broadway were calling? She could stand this apartment for a year. Next year, it would be the Ritz!
"First order of business, clean this blasted place!" She popped her yellow rubber gloves and reached for the disinfect. "This apartment won't know what hit it!" And the scrubbing began.
"Home, sweet, home," she said quietly. The old apartment was bare save for her mattress on the floor in the the room she optimistically dubbed "the suite". The closet-size "suite" was the nicest room in the decrepit place. Only one wall had a hole in it and there was still some paint from the previous tenant visible. The rest of the apartment wasn't quite so lucky. The kitchen walls held the stains of nicotine and burnt food. The bathroom wall... She didn't want to know what those stains were from. Brown nicotine covered the walls of the front room and there were various sizes of holes scattered throughout the room.
"But," she whispered to the nicotine walls. "It's mine. All mine. I can do this." She smiled at the grungy home.
Moving to New York to follow her dream of becoming a Broadway actress motivated Penny's smile. Who cared about stains and holes in the walls when the shiny stars of Broadway were calling? She could stand this apartment for a year. Next year, it would be the Ritz!
"First order of business, clean this blasted place!" She popped her yellow rubber gloves and reached for the disinfect. "This apartment won't know what hit it!" And the scrubbing began.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)